Sony has introduced its own movie streaming app for PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users. The Sony Pictures Core app allows users to purchase or rent movies, but there’s an exciting bonus in store for subscribers of PlayStation Plus Premium and Deluxe (available in select markets).

Free Access to a Library of 100 Ad-Free Sony Pictures Films

PlayStation Plus Premium and Deluxe members will now have access to a curated library of up to 100 ad-free Sony Pictures films at no additional cost. This impressive lineup includes popular titles like “Looper,” “Kingsglaive: Final Fantasy XV,” “Elysium,” and “Resident Evil Damnation,” with the promise of regular updates to the library. Sony also plans to integrate anime content from Crunchyroll into the Sony Pictures Core app, hinting at more benefits on the horizon for all PS Plus subscribers.

A Long-Awaited Perk for PS Plus Subscribers

Many avid gamers and industry observers have advocated for Sony to include movie streaming as part of the PlayStation Plus subscription for some time. With Sony’s expanding efforts to adapt its gaming franchises into movies and TV shows, this move seems to align perfectly with its evolving strategy. However, it’s worth noting that this announcement comes shortly after Sony raised the annual price of the PS Plus Premium plan from $120 to $160.

Exclusive Early Access and In-Game Rewards

PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 users will also enjoy the privilege of purchasing select Sony Pictures films during an exclusive early access window. Currently, users in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand can buy titles like “Gran Turismo” through their consoles before they are available for digital purchase elsewhere. As an added bonus, purchasing films through Sony Pictures Core will reward gamers with in-game credits for “Gran Turismo 7.”

Expanding Availability to More Devices

The Sony Pictures Core app has already been available on Bravia TVs and select Xperia devices for some time. However, Sony plans to rebrand the app on these devices in the coming year.

Room for Improvement in Video Quality

While the Sony Pictures Core app is undoubtedly exciting, some PlayStation users might be disappointed to learn that it lacks a key feature available on Bravia and Xperia devices. On those platforms, the Bravia Core app utilizes Sony’s Pure Stream technology, capable of streaming video at speeds of up to 80 Mbps. In contrast, Netflix recommends speeds of up to 25 Mbps for 4K video streaming. Sony claims that this higher bit rate allows for “near lossless” video streaming, rivaling the quality of 4K Blu-ray discs.

Regrettably, the current iteration of the Sony Pictures Core app on PlayStation devices does not offer video quality settings or access to Pure Stream technology. However, gamers and movie enthusiasts can hope for future updates that might bring this feature to the platform.