Sony Interactive Entertainment has launched an updated PlayStation Plus subscription in Asia that also brings classic PlayStation games to the PlayStation Store on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. However, it turned out that many of them work at 50 Hz, with a reduced frame rate.

Ape Escape 2. Image Source: Sony Interactive Entertainment

PAL is a video format used in Europe and America with a refresh rate of 50Hz. There is another format called NTSC which outputs an image at 60Hz. Many PAL versions of early console games are considered inferior due to their slower performance.

Users first noticed this in the PSOne version of Ape Escape. Despite the Asian region, it turned out to be a PAL version of the game. This is indicated by the mention of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe at the start of the project. And the game runs at 25fps instead of 30fps.

All other PSOne games from Sony, including Everybody’s Golf, Wild Arms, Jumping Flash and Kurushi, as well as Worms, World Party and Armageddon, are available as PAL versions. However, as it turned out, NTSC versions are still presented in the service. Among them are Tekken 2, Siphon Filter, Abe’s Oddysee and Mr. driller.

It is noteworthy that in games on the PlayStation Classic retroconsole, Sony Interactive Entertainment offered PAL versions at 50 Hz around the world, which greatly disappointed fans. Perhaps the publisher uses this video format for the reason that European versions of projects contain more localization options.

In June, the updated PlayStation Plus subscription will be available in other regions.