PlayStation to Add CinemaNow, Gets Into 3DTV Business

6 Jun, 2011 By: Chris Tribbey

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This fall PlayStation 3 will add Best Buy’s CinemaNow service, and Sony Computer Entertainment will release a PS3-themed 24-inch 3DTV display, bundled with 3D glasses, an HDMI cable and 3D game, the company announced at its Electronic Entertainment Expo, or E3, press event June 6.

“Content partners see the value that PlayStation Network offers,” Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America, said of the CinemaNow announcement.

The 3DTV set will have a retail price of $499.99 and Sony’s 3D glasses alone will retail for $69 each. The set specifically is tailored to gamers, allowing two players to see individual full-screen images of gameplay, when using a supported title.

“The era of 3D has officially arrived and there are over 50 million PS3 units around the world that deliver the true 3D experience across games, movies and TV,” Tretton said. “Content has been just one barrier to the adoption of 3D. The other is price. Much like HD and Blu-ray, we know gamers are going to drive 3D adoption.” He added that there are now more than 100 PS3 3D titles available or announced.

Sony also unveiled the name and game titles for its latest portable gaming system, the PlayStation Vita. The Vita includes motion sensors, front and rear cameras, two analog sticks and a touchscreen. The system also can connect to a PS3 and allow for a player to continue their game on a larger screen. The Vita will be priced at $249 for the WiFi-only model, while the 3G WiFi model will retail for $299. AT&T will be the exclusive wireless provider for the Vita.

Also at the press event, Sony announced it has sold more than 8.8 million units of its motion-sensing system the Move, and that currently the PlayStation 3 is responsible for more than 30% of Netflix streaming content.

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