Sony’s New Spotify-Powered Music Service Goes Live For PlayStation

If you’re a PlayStation owner who is also a Spotify addict, then there’s good news for you today — Sony and the music streaming service have teamed up to let you listen to your tunes while you game.

The Spotify-powered service was announced in January, but it arrived for PlayStation Music today. Tracks can be switched using the iOS or Android app, which means PS4 and PS3 customers in 41 countries worldwide can switch the in-game soundtrack to their favorite tunes without interrupting their gaming.

Personally I’m not so keen on this. Most games are the result of massive production efforts, a key component of which is the soundtrack which is often developed to add to the experience and immerse you inside the game. Reverting to Spotify, to me, is like switching the audio off in a movie to listen to your favorite playlist. A little counter-productive and excessive — and I say that as a paying Spotify customer.

But, we are all unique in our opinions, and Gustav Söderström, Chief Product Officer at Spotify, is in the other camp.

“Music has always been a big part of gaming,” he 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.”

Each to their own then…

This partnership with Sony is another example of Spotify’s desire to go beyond catering to your music needs on mobile and desktop and instead be ‘the soundtrack to your life’. The Swedish company teamed up with Uber last year to let passengers pick their music while they ride, and gaming is another area where it was inclined to make its presence felt.

The alliance is also a sensible one for Sony, which closed its struggling Music Unlimited service in favor of working with Spotify. Its chief console gaming rival, Microsoft (Xbox), has its own music streaming service, so it isn’t a huge surprise to see Sony align itself with one of the biggest names in the streaming game.