Shadow Warrior 3 will be available on PlayStation Now on launch day. Even though this is good news already, it can also open the door to many possibilities in the future. Here’s what you need to know.

Shadow Warrior 3 will be available on PS Now at launch

On February 22, 2022, Flying Wild Hog lead producer, Bartek Savicky confirmed in a PlayStation Blog post that Shadow Warrior 3 will be available on the PS Now subscription service when it launches on March 1, which came as a surprise to everyone.

The katanas are in full swing and the dragon hunt is about to begin! I’m Bartek, the lead producer on Shadow Warrior 3, and our team here at Flying Wild Hogs is excited to bring you all a fresh look at our game ahead of its launch on March 1st.

Stay tuned though as this post is getting some updates throughout the day, with more videos to dive a little deeper into the game. Oh, and one more thing — Shadow Warrior 3 will be a PlayStation Now title at launch.

This makes Shadow Warrior 3 the first brand-new game to be released on PlayStation Now on launch day. And while this is great news for both Shadow Warrior and PS Now users, it also opens the door to other possibilities for the PS Now subscription service.

Sony is getting ready to fight Microsoft

In case you didn’t know, Microsoft is taking steps to make its subscription service, Xbox Game Pass, the best it’s ever been.

Earlier in 2022, Microsoft acquired Activision Blizzard in an effort to increase the quality and quantity of games available on Xbox Game Pass. On top of that, Microsoft also acquired other well-known companies like Bethesda, and even tried to buy Discord.

While other companies have game libraries, Microsoft now has a library of game developers with lots of popular games.

Enter Shadow Warrior 3. This popular first-person shooter game could be Microsoft’s answer to Sony. Adding new, popular games could entice more users to try out PS Now as it would provide better value.

What’s good for PlayStation users is that if Shadow Warrior does well on PS Now, it’s likely we’ll see more new, high-profile games launch on the platform. Which would make it an incredible deal for gamers on a budget. Of course, there’s no way of knowing if this is Sony’s actual plan, so we’ll still have to wait and see.

What about Sony Spartacus?

Even though it’s just a rumor, for now, Sony might have another ace. Sony is said to be working on a new subscription platform, code-named “Spartacus”.

This subscription service will feature a large game library with many games from the PS1, PS2, PS3, PS4 and PS5 consoles, and will be Sony’s de facto response to Microsoft’s Xbox Game Pass.

While Sony hasn’t actually confirmed anything yet, this subscription could launch in the spring of 2022. If this is true, it’s possible Sony will be testing the waters with PS Now by releasing brand-new games on launch day.

The future looks bright for PlayStation gamers

Is this pure speculation or the real deal remains to be seen. One thing is certain though; Shadow Warrior fans using PlayStation Now will be happier than ever.

And if you’re still wondering whether you should pick up PlayStation Now or Xbox Game Pass, this is a good time to compare the two platforms to see which one is best for you.

While all-you-can-stream services like Netflix and Spotify have largely replaced proprietary media in the film and music sectors, video games haven’t quite caught up to this new standard.

However, both Sony and Microsoft offer their own game subscription services in the form of PlayStation Plus and Xbox Game Pass, respectively.

Let’s compare PS Plus and Xbox Game Pass to see which one offers better value for money. As these services become more prevalent, they may be the determining factor in which console you decide to purchase.

PlayStation Plus Basics

Sony’s game subscription offering has gone through a few changes. PlayStation Now, which launched in early 2015, was the first form. It was a standalone subscription that allowed you to stream hundreds of titles from throughout PlayStation’s history on the modern console, with many new games available to download as well.

In June 2022, PlayStation Plus expanded to offer three tiers: Essential, Extra, and Premium. The Essentials is similar to the former PS Plus plan, while the Extras include access to hundreds of PS4 and PS5 titles that you can download and play. PS Plus Premium includes game streaming that was part of PlayStation Now, meaning the original service is no longer around.