Sony is removing PS Now cards from UK retailers

Sony has asked UK retailers to start removing PS Now gift cards, the company has confirmed.

According to VentureBeat, UK store retailers like GAME were told via email to pull PS Now gift cards from their shelves by Friday, January 21.

“Stores have until the close of day Wednesday 19, January to remove all POS and ESD cards from all customer-facing areas and update their digital bays in line with this week’s upcoming commercial update … .”

A Sony spokesperson told VentureBeat the following: “Globally, we are moving from PlayStation Now gift cards to focus on our current cash denomination PlayStation gift cards, which can be redeemed for PlayStation Now.”

Sony spokesperson says:
"Globally, we are moving from PlayStation Now gift cards to focus on our current cash denomination PlayStation gift cards, which can be redeemed for PlayStation Now."https://t.co/RFyXXqkcZC

— Jeff Grubb, No. 3 games journalist (@JeffGrubb) January 12, 2022

Bloomberg said last month Sony has plans to create a service that rivals Xbox Game Pass. Codenamed “Spartacus,” the first tier is supposed to offer the current benefits of PlayStation Plus. The second tier could offer access to a library of PS4 titles. Finally, the third tier may offer demos, game streaming, and content from previous generations (just like PS Now).

Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreir said the removal of PS Now cards in the US some weeks ago and in the UK soon is part of Sony’s plans to prepare “for the launch of Spartacus.”

Interesting that Sony pulling PS Now cards in the UK is making headlines on gaming sites today — it happened a few weeks ago in the US. But yes, this is preparing for the launch of Spartacus (aka: a revamped PlayStation Plus), as Bloomberg reported in early December

— Jason Schreier (@jasonschreier) January 12, 2022

Is the end of PS Now coming this year? Stay tuned.

[Source]: VentureBeat: Sony is pulling PS Now retail cards from U.K. retailers – [Archive].