Sony launches Sony Pictures Core for movie streaming, free for PlayStation Plus users

Sony has launched the Sony Pictures Core app, previously known as Bravia Core, on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5. Previously available on Bravia TVs and select Xperia devices, and then discontinued, the app is once again accessible for movie streaming and rentals, with PlayStation Plus Premium and Deluxe subscribers being able to a library of up to 100 ad-free Sony Pictures films at no additional charge. Sony plans to update this film list periodically and integrate anime content from Crunchyroll.

Keep in mind though that the PlayStation version of the Sony Pictures Core app does not include the Pure Stream technology, a feature that provides near-lossless 4K quality streaming at up to 80 Mbps. This feature remains exclusive to Bravia and Xperia users, and Sony has not yet introduced video quality settings in the PlayStation version of the app, leaving the door open for the potential inclusion of Pure Stream in the future.

This is one of the strategies that Sony is implementing to increase the number of subscriptions to its Plus service, alongside the new PS5 Cloud Streaming service with 4K, to compete more aggressively against alternatives like Xbox Game Pass or Xbox Cloud Gaming, especially now that the price increase of its PS Plus Premium plan from $120 to $160 was recently announced.