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Developers looking to sell their upcoming games on the PlayStation Store are reportedly being required to also create a two-hour trial. The report comes less than a month after Sony announced the expanded PlayStation Plus service.
Game Developer reports that Sony has recently informed video game studios of its new policy that requires them to make game demos if their title has a wholesale cost of $34 or above. The announcement was reportedly made through the company’s developer portal, and no other form of communication was made about the new requirement.
The two-hour duration of the game trials appears to be part of the new requirement, the same report indicates. While AAA publishers and developers are unlikely to be affected by these changes, the report notes that it might not be the best policy for smaller studios with limited resources.
Meanwhile, Sony’s policy change is said to give a little leeway to developers. For one, they do not have to make the game demos available before or during their game’s launch. They are reportedly allowed to release the two-hour trials within three months from the date of their game’s release date.
Sony announced the expanded PS Plus service in late March. One of the major changes is the introduction of three subscription tiers, including the highest-priced PS Plus Premium, which will cost $17.99 monthly / $49.99 quarterly / $119.99 yearly. Of the three membership plans, Premium is the only tier that will offer time-limited game trials that would allow subscribers to try a game first before buying it.
The same report noted that developers are required to make their game demos available to PS Plus Premium members for at least 12 months. Sony might also approve other forms of game trials, but the publication said it will be allowed “on a case-by-case basis.” Meanwhile, the company will still allow developers to conduct their own promos, including free play weekends.
Aside from free game demos, PS Plus Premium will also offer a library of downloadable games with more than 700 titles, including classic titles released for the first PlayStation, PS2, PS3, and PSP. It is also the only tier to feature cloud streaming in select regions. Sony is aiming to launch its all-new PS Plus services on May 23 in most Asian regions, June 1 in Japan, June 13 in the Americas, and June 22 in Europe.
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