Netflix Brings Streaming to PS3s

PlayStation 3 gamers will soon have one more reason to hide out in the basement and avoid the light of day. Next month, Netflix will extend its video streaming service to PS3 consoles. Buying/renting videos out in the real world no longer needs to be a part of PS3 movie enjoyment. Nine million U.S.-based PS3 users will gain access to Netflix streaming. All that’s needed to enjoy the service is a Netflix account and free BD-Live disc, which will need to be put into the PS3 each time the user wishes to access Netflix content. The disc is available by order through Netflix, and the subscription will run $8.99+ a month.

Netflix has been steadily working to upgrade its mail-based movie service to reflect burgeoning streaming and on-demand video technology. The PS3 service will join similar streaming access available on a variety of other equipment from HDTVs to the Xbox 360. The PS3 service is expected to become more streamlined in the future when Sony and Netflix better merge technologies to offer the movies without the mandatory BD-Live disc. The move is seen as a way of integrating streaming content into homes much more quickly than could be done through sale of brand new equipment such as streaming-enabled TVs and Blu-ray players. [via NY Times]