Sony Entertainment Network has finally launched a new service called “Instant Play” that allows users to stream standard or high definition films instantly on the PS3. Apps like Amazon Instant and LOVEFiLM have used instant streaming since launch, but it’s taken Sony far too long to catch up.
Speaking to the Wall Street Journal, Andrew House, president and Group CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment, has revealed Sony’s plans on how the company will use cloud streaming service Gaikai. Sony announced that it will be acquiring Gaikai early this week.
In a press release today, Sony Computer Entertainment has announced that it will be acquiring Gaikai Inc., the world’s leading interactive cloud-based gaming company, for approximately US $380 million. With the acquisitions, “SCE will deliver a world-class cloud-streaming service that allows users to instantly enjoy a broad array of content ranging from immersive core games with rich graphics to casual content anytime, anywhere.”
Announced at the Anime Expo, Crunchyroll is bringing its anime streaming application to the PlayStation 3. Later in the year, an PS Vita app will also be available. The app will launch in North America at first, with other countries possibly to follow.
In an interview with MCV, Shuhei Yoshida, President of Sony Worldwide Studios, has said that the company is looking at “what OnLive is doing” and “how this can be a part of PlayStation.” He also mentioned that Sony already implements some basic cloud technology with the Remote Play feature on the PS3, PSP and PS Vita.
Amazon Instant Video is available now on PlayStation Network, making the PS3 the first and only video game console to offer the service. The app can be found in the [My Channels] option on the [TV/Video Services] section of the XMB.
As you may have heard during today’s Sony Electronics press conference at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, PlayStation and Netflix are teaming up again to bring tens of thousands of hours of movies and TV episodes from Netflix to the PS Vita for US customers.
PS3 owners living in the UK and Ireland will notice a new icon on the TV/Video Services section of the XMB. The Netflix app is only 14MB in size, but isn’t completely functional yet. The service will be available in the UK and Ireland soon, so the app only displays a “coming soon” message and allows you to sign-up for a notification email once the service is available.
VUDU has been updated to a whole new dimension today thanks to a new patch for the movie streaming service. If you’ve got a 3D-enabled TV hooked up to your PS3, now you can stream in 3D directly from VUDU. If you’ve already downloaded the VUDU app, it will be updated automatically with the new functionality.
If you live in the US, you can now download the VUDU application which allows you to stream cinema-quality movies in the comfort of your home theater, complete with full 1080p HD with 5.1 Dolby Digital Plus sound. The movies are available on-demand and you only pay for the movies that you watch. Also, when you sign up for a VUDU account, you will receive a $5.99 credit on your account for one free HD rental.
