Sony claims more users stream content to their TVs through PS3 than any other non-PC device; Netflix CEO says system is a "natural fit."
The PlayStation 3 is the top non-PC Netflix device worldwide. Sony senior vice president of business development Phil Rosenberg revealed today that more people stream Netflix content to their televisions through PS3 than any other connected device worldwide.
Rosenberg called the achievement a "major milestone," adding that it is particularly noteworthy when considering the numerous other Netflix-compatible devices on the market.
Also commenting on the news was Netflix CEO Reed Hastings, who revealed that though the PC remains the top distributor of Netflix content, the PS3 surpassed PC in terms of hours spent watching for periods of time this year. These were not specified. Hastings also called the PS3 a "natural fit" for Netflix in terms of compatibility for the service's "most advanced features."
Netflix support for PS3 was introduced during November 2009 and achieved a range of "firsts" for any game console. Sony said PS3 was the first console to offer Netflix playback in 1080p resolution, the first to offer second-screen controls, the first to offer on-device account registration, and the first to feature alternate audio options like subtitles.
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
My Elite was sitting in a wire frame stand with great circulation at a room temperature of about 69 degrees when it gave me the RROD while playing videos from the marketplace. Sure, it's just a coincidence but I have only used my ps3 for video since so I suppose I am in that statistic.
ofcourse its the perfect match. ps3 is the perfect system. love the netflix app clean and easy to use on my ps3
Probably because it doesn't require a paid online account to stream to it (seriously Microsoft, you're the ONLY ONES THAT DO THAT WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?) and the objective fact that the PS3 interface is worlds better than the 360's to boot (and always was, the navigation controls o the 360 Netflix were ALWAYS terrible, not just on the new, even worse version). I use my PS3 more for Netflix and Blurays than gaming, but that's because I'm like 95% PC gamer, 5% console gamer.
@digi-demon From observing my friends list I'd say it's about 65% gaming, 35% Netflix. I think this speaks towards a lot of things. For one, before the Wii U the PS3 was the only console that could stream Netflix in 1080p which means a lot to more people than you'd think since all those 1080p tv sets bought for a more gratifying visual experience in gaming was going to waste on most console games since very few were or are rendered in 1080i or 1080p. If my Wii streamed Netflix in 1080p or HD at all it would be my device of choice for the service since it doesn't get used even by the kids. It also says more about the state of gaming and how popular Netflix is than the console itself. Lets face it, for a lot of people gaming has become stagnant. Games that hold my attention for long periods of time are becoming increasingly rare. I mean how many open world games with 50+ hours worth of fetch or errand quests or look-a-like FPS's can you stand before it becomes mind-numbingly repetitive? Not every game has the ability to keep you entertained most of the way through while you complete all the challenges like Arkham City did. Then there's the fact that Netflix is actually a pretty convienient service. You can check out movies, or if you're like me you can watch certain TV series that you didn't have time to keep up with before. I find myself getting drawn in for hours letting Netflix autoplay through a series for me. I don't know, I guess I was just one of those people that bought the PS3 for everything that it could do. Gaming is the main chunk of that for sure, but I also loaded it up with music and movies as soon as I could and used Netflix when it became available. I like not having to (or wanting to) switch devices to do all of that.
@digi-demon I use my PS3 mostly for streaming Crunchyroll and sometimes Hulu and Netflix. The fact that I don't have to pay a separate fee for X-box live makes the PS3 my streaming box of choice.
That said, I use my 360 for most of my gaming. I did buy AC3 for the PS3 though, for the PS3 exclusives. A side benefit is that I can play multiplayer without paying for X-box live.
1 Like When PS3 launched it was called the cheapest Blu-ray player, so in a sense it's not surprising that a lot of tv/movie content is streamed through it. Good for them.
1 Like "Natural fit"? This guy know's the PS3 is a game console right? Gamespot, you know you're a game news site right? Hope you can see where I'm going with this.
1 Like @Kunakai The 360 and PS3 were both basically marketed as multi-media entertainment centers with a strong emphasis on gaming despite them actually being gaming consoles with additional multi-media entertainment options. Doesn't surprise me that they'd be talking about Netflix stats. My PS3 is used mostly for gaming, the kids use theirs about half for gaming and half for Netflix, while my ex-wife uses hers at her place primarily for Netflix and a blu-ray player. Different strokes...
@horizonwriter True enough but how is this related to gaming? It's like Gamespot doing a movie review because the 360 has a DVD player, which I'd bet gets used a hell of a lot more often than Netflix! As far as Sony goes, if they feel this news is impressive they need to screw their heads on, it's actually pretty bad from a gamers perspective (more 360 consoles have been reported to be sold the PS3 and both have Netflix capability, I'd call that a pretty good indicator that the PS3 isn't being used as much for gaming, I could just be confusing myself though).
@Kunakai lol Bitch away. The comments section is a powerful thing. I guess I take all of the extra info related to anything gaming to mean that there really is a gaming culture that has become cemented in place. Maybe they should do a sister site though that deals with just games and game reviews, similar to MTV and MTV2 (even though MTV eventually screwed that up royally as well).
1 Like @horizonwriter Can't disagree with that, I really doubt anyone looking for games news gives a damn though. I just want Gamespot to be games focussed and not turn out like a copy paste IGN, last week it was sexism in gaming (something I've never witnessed, or heard any girl complain about), now stats for Netflix? If I don't bitch I fear this trend will only get worse.
@Kunakai I get what you're saying, but I think it's not meant to be taken that far or seriously. The article itself is pretty small and it's just a tidbit of info on a gaming system, which is the only reason why it's on this site. Just one of those "useless facts" kind of things. If you care read it, if not so be it.
@Kunakai I remember Kaz saying, "Sony should have never marketed the ps3 as anything else, other than a gaming console!"
Either way I was happy when he came back, and was in charge of the playstation brand...
Ken Kutagari called it a computer...
Phil Harrison called it a blu ray player...
Kazuo Hirai called it a gaming console!
3 Like Yep,
I've probably got around 30 friends or so on PSN and quite often a lot of them are on Netflix. It's a good service on a good console, hardly a suprise.
The fact you don't have to pay to be connected online is no doubt an advantage as well..
I bet that's almost as high as the number of Linux-based PCs streaming Netflix. Oh, wait...
2 Like As a PS3 owner, I hardly ever use Netfix. I still prefer playing games in my system mostly.
1 Like @franzito Ok, so you don't like watching movies and shows. Some people do, and being able to stream Netflix onto a TV through a video game console is extremely convenient for people who enjoy both watching TV and playing games, or for friends and family who don't necessarily enjoy video games, but do enjoy watching the programming on Netflix and have a family member who owns a console that can stream Netflix.
3 Like not surprised, as of my few PSN friends, I see more netflix usage than anything.
4 Like @hatieshorrer Sony entered profit two years ago when the PS3 slim came out. The sad truth is the gaming division of Sony is currently their only profitable division.
@nbba2 @hatieshorrer Not true. Their profit in commercial and government circles is insane. I work for a 10 market news station and we exclusively use Sony products. The quality is second to none, and in the years past when I worked at other news stations, including CNN Washington, we always had a Sony monopoly equipment -wise. Not sure where you get your figures, but you couldn't be more incorrect about Sony as a whole not making a profit. Maybe in consumer circles, but the corporate and military contracts alone have made astronomical gains since as far back as 1991...
@nbba2 @hatieshorrer Very sad, but unsurprising. Their products are priced so high considering that the quality doesn't match the price. Their competitors are running circles around them.
@arc_salvo @nbba2 @hatieshorrer
I don't know where you get the idea quality doesn't match their price.
As a pc and console gamer, my obvious choice is a PS3 because of the nice exclusives and of course Netflix. is really obvious seriously, nice interface, no subs, PS + and a decent HD and sound quality
1 Like The only reason I watch it on the PS3 is when I get those lag times Xbox signs me out of Live where the PS3 just downgrades the picture quality for a bit.
4 Like why is this even news and a proud moment for Sony????PS3 is (was????) supposed to for playing GAMES......NOT WATCHING TV!!!!!!!!
1 Like @fanaticsm Both PS3 and 360 were proudly presented as "media centers" that cater to the family TV needs. So Sony can be proud if Netflix is blooming under the PS3 flag. The PS3 also has a Blu-ray player so many people buy it as a media solution and not specifically for games.
@nbba2 @fanaticsm Personally, I bought it for the exclusives, but I mostly use it for the Blu-Ray and Video Streaming programs like Netflix, Hulu, and even Crunchyroll, which is what I watch the most. It's such a great media center. Plus it has a web browser and has had one longer than the X-box has.
@arc_salvo @nbba2 nooooooo.....don't say that.....otherwise the next gen will be even more focused on 'media' than gaming....and future E3s will be all about everything that u can do on your console(s) other than gaming.....
1 Like @fanaticsm No reason to be mad about it. PS3 plays games and has the best Netflix app on any device. I do both on mine.
3 Like @KamuiFei this is exactly the reason to be MAD about it......this is the reason the PS3 is lagging behind.....more focus on other things and less focus on games while with the PS2 it was the opposite....
@fanaticsm @KamuiFei Yeah, the PS3 is kind of like the X-box 1 of this generation. Highest specs and price, but not as popular.
@fanaticsm @KamuiFei That's why i keep saying, we don't need a new gen, if its to keep lagging, focusing in DLC and app, and just improvising graphics, and keep low quality and short games, the new gen will be just a waste of money.
5 Like I bought an Xbox four weeks ago for the first time. I lol to the people who actually pay Microsoft for access to web apps. Buying an Xbox makes me appreciate my ps3. I'm only going to purchase Xbox games for single player exclusives. I suggest you nut-sacks do the same.
2 Like Course it is. They ruined the X-Box 360 Netflix app. Drastically changing it and making it autoplay the next episode with no option to disable that feature.
They actually made it so that if you want to, you can't enjoy the credits because Netflix the app assumes you don't want to watch them and brings up viewing suggestions while shrinking the video into a corner.
1 Like I love Netflix on my PS3. I used to watch it on my xbox non stop until they updated and ruined the whole thing. No more parties, horrible layout and for some reason it stayed in wide screen even though i have a widescreen tv. The PS3 is so much easier to navigate and actually looks really good.
1 Like PS3 is kind of the best for Netflix- I like that it autoplays the next episode of a TV show, so you don't have to hunt for a controller if you want to watch a few episodes in a row- but the 360 with a Kinect is also a pretty neat way to control it; nothing quite like saying "Xbox... Play next episode" and having it listen to you. However the 360 version seems to freeze and crash when it's booting up much more often. In general I use my PS3 and iPad for Netflix most of the time.
10 Like Well that is a nice bright spot for Sony. PS3 seems to be the best choice for Netflix and Gaming. Not having to pay extra for Xbox live helps.
4 Like that because you don't have to pay to extra to stream it off your PS3 like you do on the 360. You can thank greedy Microcrap for that...
2 Like Streaming Netflix on my 360 is a horrible experience. It was perfect for so long then the new dashboard and just... killed it.
Why Xbox Live Gold should not return in the coming generation.
Users who looked at this article also looked at these content items.
United States Vice President Joe Biden believes there is no legal restriction on ability to tax violent media. Full Story
Avalanche Studios co-founder says developer's ambition is for action, not moments that make players cry; steampunk-style game on hold. Full Story
Developer confirms image suggesting version of upcoming shared-world shooter in development for Sony's latest portable is a fake. Full Story
Assassin's Creed and Far Cry publisher says its network of 26 studios and over 7,000 developers will allow company to ship major franchises more regularly. Full Story
4A Games creative director Andrew Prokhorov thanks Jason Rubin for telling the studio's story, but says, "We deserve the ratings we get." Full Story
DICE head would also like to poach top talent from rivals Infinity Ward and Treyarch. Full Story
Future EA games won't require Online Passes; the service is being scrapped after tepid player response. Full Story
Xbox One adds Smart Match, Game DVR
Microsoft says new multiplayer system a complete reengineering; new achievements span multiple games; Game DVR allows users to record and share gameplay.
