Weirdly, the PlayStation 5 won't have a number of streaming apps for UK users on day one.
Yesterday, Sony announced that the snazzy console will be arriving with "all the major streaming services" for users to enjoy as well as its core capabilities for next-generation gaming. Apple TV, Disney+, Netflix, Spotify, Twitch, and YouTube will be available at launch, expectedly, and it continues to state that "Amazon Prime Video, MyCanal, Hulu, Peacock, and more" will be added at a later date.
The PlayStation 4's additional apps mean it's super easy to switch from playing Far Cry: New Dawn, to watching how-tos of shortbread recipes on YouTube, to an episode of House on Amazon Prime, and then back to Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout. Is this an anecdote? Possibly. But, these extra features are definitely on Sony's radar going into the next generation of hardware, and it's good to see these apps are there from the get-go.
Advert
Nevertheless, there is a hole in the line-up of streaming apps. No mention is made of BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, Now TV, Channel 4 Hub, Channel 5 Hub, or the like. There only appears to be the "biggest" streaming apps on the PlayStation 5, and though Sony claims that more apps will be introduced in the future, I doubt that it will be high up on its list of to-dos. When you've got the titans of Netflix and Disney+ jostling elbows, you'll probably want to focus on areas that need TLC, like the PlayStation Plus membership for PlayStation 5 users.
This might not seem like something to make a massive fuss about. However, distribution agreements vary over geography, and as a result, PlayStation 5 users in France, the U.S., and the UK (for example) might not get the same range of shows and movies on Netflix. Instead, these users might turn to their own country's streaming apps to watch their favourite shows, but they might not be offered on the PlayStation 5.
Advert
"We know that for many of you, your PlayStation console doesn't get shut off when you're done playing games," said Sony. "Entertainment like movies, TV shows, music, and gaming livestreams only add to the PlayStation experience. As we continue on our road to PS5 launch, we're pleased to announce some of the entertainment apps scheduled to hit the PS5 console on day one, with more apps to come in the future."
Fingers crossed that the number of apps on the console increases incrementally over the next couple of months, so that everyone has a universal experience. The PlayStation 5 hits the shelves on November 12th in the U.S., and on November 19th for the rest of the world.
Featured Image Credit: BBC, SonyTopics: PlayStation 5, Disney+, Twitch