PS5 Expected To Launch Its Own Xbox Game Pass Rival This Week

Gaming subscriptions are now must buy purchases for many console users, which is why Sony looks set to revamp its service for the PlayStation 5 later this week.

The PS5 may be the most sought-after console in the world right now, but it has lagged behind the Xbox Series X in terms of online passes of late.

However, according to Bloomberg, that will soon be rectified, with Sony reportedly planning to combine its two existing subscription services - PlayStation Now and PlayStation Plus - for its next-gen device.

The Xbox Game Pass currently has more than 25 million subscribers, offering users a massive library of game titles, including some brand new releases.

Bloomberg speculates that the new PS5 service, code-named 'Spartacus', could be unveiled as early as this week.

They add that Sony will provide access to a wide range of games, including both modern and classic titles for fans to enjoy.

Several different tiers of membership could also be available for would-be users, with the top tier including benefits like extended demos and the ability to stream games.

After the release of the PS5 in November 2020, the only subscription service available to gamers was PlayStation Plus. That only granted users a handful of free titles each month, while also allowing them to make use of online features.

It massively lagged behind Xbox's offering for the Series X - but Sony look set to eradicate Microsoft's market advantage with a premium offering of their own.

Meanwhile, reports have emerged in recent days suggesting that the PS5 Pro may also be dropping sooner than was expected.

Tech YouTuber Paul Eccleston cited 'insider sources' when claiming that the PS5 Pro was already in development.

Heralded as being 2.5x more powerful than the current spec PS5, Eccleston speculates that it might land in late 2023, or early 2024.

Sony did something very similar with its last generation console, bringing out the PS4 Pro in 2016 - three years after the original.

The release of the Pro, if there is to be one at all, would surely ease the incredible global demand for the PS5 which is still in short supply in many countries.