TOKYO: Sony has announced its partnership with Spotify, PlayStation Music and offers over 30 million songs and 1.5 billion playlists, making it easy for console owners to soundtrack their gaming sessions.
PlayStation Music, Sony’s media team-up with Swedish music streaming service Spotify, is set to go live on Monday, March 30, in 41 markets around the world.
Using the Spotify Connect feature on the official Android and iOS music app, users can select a playlist (including special gaming catalogues), skip songs, adjust the volume, and more via a smartphone or tablet, without interrupting the immersive game experience.
“Music has always been a big part of gaming,” Gustav Söderström, chief product officer at Spotify, said in a statement. “I remember playing computer games like Quake and Counter-Strike with my favorite tunes on in the background—taking the experience to a whole new level. With today’s launch, we’re bringing back that magic of gaming with music—all in a beautifully designed and smooth experience that looks great on the big screen.”
Earlier this year, Sony announced that it would shut down Music Unlimited and replace it with a new music destination in partnership with Spotify. It will also be available on Xperia smartphones and tablets, though a launch date has not yet been announced.
For those who are new to Spotify and want to take it for a spin before spending $10 per month on a Premium subscription, Sony offers Music Unlimited subscribers (with accounts active as of March 29) two free months of Spotify Premium. New and existing Spotify users who have not previously trialed Premium, meanwhile, can receive one month of access for free.
“PlayStation Network is the premier destination for digital entertainment and we’re excited that millions of users around the world can now enjoy the most compelling music service on their PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 consoles,” said John Kodera, president of Sony Network Entertainment International.
“With Spotify as the foundation of PlayStation Music, we’ll continue to evolve the service to deliver the best entertainment experience that games have come to expect from PlayStation Network,” he added.
