In its bid to outdo its competition, Sony is making waves once again. This time, the tech giant has an unexpected but delightful twists for gamers who also happen to be movie lovers.
Starting today, Sony’s stepping into the movie streaming domain with a brand-new service for PlayStation consoles (or rather, re-branded). And the cherry on top? PS Plus Premium subscribers are in for a real treat.
Meet Sony Pictures Core, formerly known as Bravia Core. Think of it as Sony’s personal movie theater, available at your fingertips, from the comfort of your PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. If the thought of being able to buy or rent up to 2,000 movies from your console excites you, hold onto that PlayStation controller because it gets better. Blockbusters available at launch include names like Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, Uncharted, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It’s certainly quite the lineup that Sony promises to expand down the line.
But Sony didn’t just stop at making movies available. No, they upped the ante. For those who might be wondering what makes Sony’s service stand out in a crowded streaming world, it’s all about quality.
Sony’s Pure Stream technology boasts streaming capabilities of HDR movies at a whopping 80Mbps, which matches the clarity and detail of 4K UHD Blu-ray. That’s a clear cut above what many other popular streaming platforms offer. The difference in picture quality, especially for those who appreciate the nuances of video fidelity, will be a game-changer.
Yet, the trump card Sony’s playing here is the early access feature. This means certain Sony Pictures films will be available for purchase through Sony Pictures Core even before they hit other digital storefronts. Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story has already debuted as the first early access title in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, it’s already up for grabs.
But let’s circle back to that special treat for PS Plus Premium and Deluxe members. With their membership, they’ll gain access to an ad-free curated catalog of up to 100 movies, streamed on demand. Films like Looper, Elysium, and Resident Evil Damnation are all part of this initial offering. So, while they might not be the very latest blockbusters, the selection is set to evolve, with periodic updates ensuring the movie night roster stays fresh.
And for the anime enthusiasts out there, Sony has another ace up its sleeve. With the acquisition of Crunchyroll in 2020, Sony hinted at plans to bring a selection of hit anime content to Sony Pictures Core.
It’s evident Sony is intent on bringing together its entertainment divisions to offer an enriched PlayStation experience. The introduction of Sony Pictures Core is just the tip of the iceberg, signaling more integrations and perks in the future.
Merging the world of gaming with cinematic experiences and offering quality and exclusivity along the way is truly a commendable move, but one that might be necessary.
Sony put the scrutiny-filled spotlight onto itself when it confirmed that it was raising the prices of PlayStation Plus by a hefty margin. Since then, fans have criticized every move it has made, especially the quality of the games it has added to every tier. PS Plus Premium, in particular, has received the brunt of the comments. The lack of additional offerings befitting its price and supposedly “Premium” name makes it one of the least popular tiers. However, with the addition of Sony Pictures Core perks, Sony is giving subscribers a good reason to upgrade, especially once the exclusive English-dub anime from Crunchyroll starts hitting the service.
Speaking of, Sony has confirmed the free game lineup for PS Plus Essential subscribers this month. It’s expected to add more to the PS Plus Extra/Premium library soon.
