Sony Reportedly Asks Developers to Create 2-Hour PlayStation Game Trials
Sony is asking some developers to create custom and/or time-limited game trials for their new titles that last two hours.
As Game Developer reports, the request is aimed at any developer working on a PlayStation game that will cost $34 or more (wholesale), and spans US, European, and Japanese game studios. As to why Sony wants these trials, the answer is PlayStation Plus Premium.
In May and June this year, Sony will launch the all-new PlayStation Plus subscription service which will be available in three key tiers: Plus Essential, Plus Extra, and Plus Premium. One of the features of the most expensive Premium tier is access to "time-limited game trials."
When first revealed last month, it was easy to assume the game trials would simply allow a full game to be played for two hours before access was turned off. However, it seems Sony is also entertaining the idea of custom two-hour experiences being created instead. That makes sense, as it allows developers to show off the best of the gameplay while removing non-gameplay sections that are only of importance if playing through the entire game.
Apparently the custom trials will need to be evaluated and approved by Sony before they can be released, where as a simple time-limited experience of a full game won't undergo extra scrutiny. However, each game trial needs to be available within three months of a game launching and then will remain on Plus Premium for at least a year.
As this requirement only applies to the more expensive games being released, it frees up smaller and indie developers to focus on finishing their games. However, if PlayStation Plus Premium and these game trials prove very popular, more developers will likely want to offer them to help get their game
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