Sony has introduced its own movie streaming app for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, expanding entertainment options for users. The Sony Pictures Core app allows gamers to purchase or rent movies, catering to a variety of preferences. However, PlayStation Plus Premium and Ultra subscribers will enjoy an enticing benefit: access to a library of up to 100 ad-free Sony Pictures films at no additional cost.
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This lineup features popular titles like “Looper,” “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV,” “Elysium,” and “Resident Evil Damnation,” with periodic updates promised. Additionally, Sony plans to integrate anime content from Crunchyroll into the Sony Pictures Core app and has hinted at forthcoming perks for all PS Plus subscribers.
The decision to include movie streaming as part of PlayStation Plus subscriptions is a welcome development, aligning with Sony’s strategy to adapt its gaming franchises into film and television productions. However, it comes shortly after the company raised the price of the annual PS Plus Premium plan, which some may find disconcerting.
Moreover, PS4 and PS5 users have the exclusive opportunity to purchase select Sony Pictures films during an early access window. Currently, residents of the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can buy the film “Gran Turismo” via the Sony Pictures Core app before its digital release elsewhere. This purchase also grants in-game credits for “Gran Turismo 7.”
While the app has been accessible on Bravia TVs and certain Xperia devices, it will undergo a rebranding next year from “Bravia Core” to “Sony Pictures Core.” However, the PlayStation version of the app lacks a key feature available to Bravia and Xperia users: Sony’s Pure Stream technology, which offers streaming speeds of up to 80 Mbps.
In comparison, Netflix recommends speeds of up to 25 Mbps for 4K video streaming. This higher bit rate enables “near lossless” video streaming quality comparable to 4K Blu-ray discs. Unfortunately, the PlayStation app currently lacks video quality settings, but there is hope that Sony will integrate Pure Stream technology into it in the future, further enhancing the streaming experience for gamers.
