Gamers will argue until the end of time over which console is superior, but when the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One make their way to retailers later this month, only one box will contain a proficient media center. Microsoft has been harping on the extracurricular capabilities of the Xbox One ever since the original announcement, possibly to the detriment of its gaming audience, but it might have paid off as Sony reveals the entertainment apps that will be available on the PlayStation 4 at launch.
The following is the list of entertainment apps that will be available on November 15th:
- Amazon Instant Video
- Crackle
- Crunchyroll
- EPIX
- Hulu Plus
- NBA Game Time
- Netflix
- NHL GameCenter LIVE
- Redbox Instant
- VUDU
- YuppTV
It’s not exactly a paltry list, but there are certainly no surprises here. It’s also worth keeping in mind that the PS4 won’t be able to play audio CDs or mp3s out of the box, although Sony’s Music Unlimited is a pricey alternative if you can’t live without your music fix. Sony wants to focus on the games, which is why the PlayStation 4 has a slew of exciting indie titles releasing in the next few months that just might be able to vanquish the curse of the underwhelming launch lineup.
Sony’s entertainment apps fill a necessary gap in a next-generation console, but it’s not likely that consumers will be rushing to pick up a PS4 because of its media functionality. That lightning already struck when the PS3 was the cheapest Blu-ray player on the market.
