That's a good idea, and I've just had some similar thoughts. I think we're almost there. I had a good discussion back and forth with
kyliethicc
earlier in this thread, so I'd also be interested in what he thinks.
I think if we're going with a three tier arrangement, it might turn out like this:
- Tier 1: PS Plus as it exists now.
- Tier 2: PS Plus and a "download only" version of PS Now, which would encompass downloadable PS2 and PS4 games (as they are now), plus PS1 and PSP games. (This is where we differ. Why would Sony need to use the PS3 emulators for PS1 and PSP games? Sony has already created and used PS1 and PSP emulators for PS4.)
- Tier 3: PS Plus and the complete PS Now with both downloads and streaming. Along with the platforms in tier 2, this would add the PS3 games (available only through streaming), and hopefully by then Sony will have also brought streaming to mobile phones, tablets, and smart TV platforms.
I don't think PS1 and PSP games would be enough of an enticement to justify a higher priced tier for the masses (think of Nintendo Switch Online with N64 and Genesis games), but streaming might be, especially if they greatly expand the service to reach a broader range of devices. This would be more in line with Microsoft's arrangement of their online services, without necessarily being an exact clone.
If you want to play any of Sony's console games on your PC, phone, or smart TV, then you need tier 3.
If you want to play PS5 games on your PS4, then you need tier 3.