Sony has announced that it will be bringing a closed beta of its PlayStation Now service to the UK this spring. PlayStation Now is Sony's game streaming service which lets you run PS3 games over the web, effectively adding full backwards-compatibility to the PS4 .

You'll need a PS4 and an active PS Plus subscription to stand a chance of getting on the beta, but those that fit that criteria can register their interest now at www.playstation.com/psnow . Alternatively, you can sign up to register your interest in participating in the later stages of the beta.

Once the beta opens, PS Now will be available free of charge to the chosen participants during the beta's initial stages. However, once the service arrives in full, players will have to rent the games at "a low rental cost", according to Sony. In the US, Sony's current subscription models start at $2.99 to rent a title for four hours, $5.99 for a week, $7.99 for a month and $14.99 for 90 days, so it's likely we'll see a similar structure here in the UK.

Games on offer during the beta include Uncharted 2: Among Thieves, The Last of Us , God of War: Ascension, Rayman Legends , Far Cry 3: Blood Dragon, Saints Row: The Third - The Full Package, Just Cause 2, The Walking Dead and Dirt 3 . However, Sony said that it will also be continually adding new titles to the list, so the full version of PS Now will likely include a much wider selection of games.

Fortunately, PS Now supports both DualShock 4 and DualShock 3 controllers, so there's no need to dig out your old PS3 if it's now gathering dust in your attic. Sony also recommends you have an internet connection of at least 5Mbps to ensure a smooth gameplay experience.

Sony has yet to reveal exactly when the beta will arrive this spring, but we'll bring you the very latest as it's confirmed.