E3: Locked Out by Sony
- Scribbled on July 16th, 2008 by Jonathon Howard
- Filed in E3, Industry News, PlayStation Network, Sony PlayStation 3, WTF
If you’re in Europe, own a PlayStation 3, and have been watching E3, you’re probably pretty excited about the chance to have a video store sitting right there in your entertainment center… Or you would be, except Sony is locking the thing by region, and the Video Store is only coming to the United States for now. Even if you’ve set up an U.S. account in Europe, you won’t be able to get your virtual mitts on the movies.
It doesn’t seem quite fair, especially since European owners can access the U.S. game store. I have a feeling this has a lot more to do with protecting sales and distribution channels, helping the pockets of movie distributors and such, rather than helping their customers. Sony is already doing this with their Blu-Rays which are region locked as well.
For all of you across the pond, I hope Sony has a big announcement for you in the near future!
(Thanks, Joystiq.)
July 16th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
Quite unfair? There are copyright laws to be checked and some distribution rights to be cleared up. Remember the European delay of the Xbox LIVE Video Marketplace?
I just hope for Sony and their partners that they keep the available films up to date, because there are currently 108 movies available on the German XLVM, which isn’t really that impressive if you have around 800 movies in your own DVD/Blu-ray collection.
And regarding the game store: because the PS3 games are region-free (at least I haven’t seen a game yet that is locked - as it is possible for a developer to do so) I think they keep it open for business around the globe; even though you have to “move” to the US to open up an account in the first place.
July 17th, 2008 at 5:24 am
[...] is Sony’s priorities? While it’s understandable that film and television is regional due to distribution deals, this makes no sense. Well, save the fact that Sony would actually have [...]
July 21st, 2008 at 8:39 pm
[...] Looks like Europe won’t be getting their Store until Sony hammers out a deal with the BBC and other regional television companies, as well as European film houses… Oh and as we previously reported don’t bother trying to get into the American store if you’re in Europe, it won’t work. [...]