PS3 getting 3D PlayTV and photo content

By Tom Bramwell Published 9 July, 2010

3D Blu-ray movie support in September.

Sony has offered further details of its rollout for 3D support on PlayStation 3, including movies, PlayTV and photos.

According to Sony Europe's Mick Hocking, speaking at an event in London attended by CVG, a firmware update for Blu-ray 3D movie support will be released in September.

Support for 3D photos and video camera recordings will come by the end of 2010, he said, but he refused to specify the timing.

Beyond that, PlayTV users can expect to access 3D content through the DVR software as soon as broadcasters start offering them.

Sony is making a big push for 3D on a corporate level through its consumer electronics, games and movie divisions.

At E3 it showcased Killzone 3 in 3D and pledged to release a number of titles with 3D support.

Earlier this year the platform holder issued a firmware update for PS3 to prepare the console for 3D content, and last month it released 3D patches for PAIN, WipEout HD and Super Stardust HD, plus a MotorStorm: Pacific Rift 3D demo.

Picture of Tom.

About Tom Bramwell

Tom is Operations director of Eurogamer Network and Editor-at-Large of Eurogamer.net. He joined the company in February 2000. Follow him on Twitter.

Read more articles from Tom by visiting the Tom Bramwell archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (31) Latest comment 2 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • beastmaster #1 2 years ago

    Fair play to Sony. For anyone going down the 3D route, this is good news.

  • Spielo #2 2 years ago

    Can we have HD support on PlayTV before 3D support please?

  • Widge #3 2 years ago

    Yes, HD play TV first

  • FreakyZoid #4 2 years ago

    Can we have series link on PlayTV before anything else please? It is a very advanced feature that no other PVRs have, so it would set you ahead of the crowd.

  • woodnotes #5 2 years ago

    Indeed, it seems like Sony is focussing on the icing and hasn't made the cake yet with PlayTV. Series Link, dual recording, a new DVB-2 box for UK HD content etc - all needed before 3D support.

  • DrDamn #6 2 years ago

    @woodnotes
    You mean like a PlayTV 2 which they have already admitted they are working on whilst continuing to support existing customers with PlayTV?

  • KayJay #7 2 years ago

    Yeah I thought they announced PlayTV HD not long ago...

  • KayJay #8 2 years ago

    Well kinda... :-)

    http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/playtv...

  • Roarster #9 2 years ago

    As far as I'm aware there aren't even any PC TV tuners (USB or PCI) that support the UK's chosen HD format so it'll probably be a while before it appears in a version of PlayTV. I think all of the chips are currentlg going in to set top boxes.

    And can PlayTV really not do series link? I thought even basic freeview recorders can do that now...

  • X201 #10 2 years ago

    Roarster:

    The tuners exist. They just haven't dropped to the price where you can economically add them to a box that will retail for £70.

    I've read that this Christmas / Early next year is when we'll start seeing really dirt cheap HD boxes in Tesco et al


    Edited by X201 at 09/07/10 @ 09:25

  • X201 #11 2 years ago

    fröd:

    Nope. Freeview are looking into it. The only thing that will rule it out is the bandwidth. The tests they carried out resulted in the broadcast taking up the equivalent room of nearly two channels.


  • X201 #12 2 years ago

    EarlBassett:

    Wasn't really Sony's fault they thought -like a lot of companies - that DVB-T was the expected transmission format and started manufacture in order to get the product to market in Europe on time. They were unlucky that they backed the wrong horse in the UK and OFCOM went for the superior DVB-T2 standard.



  • barrylyndon #13 2 years ago

    They should also design the playtv different. I dont want it hanging off a usb cable off the front of a ps3 slim. A box that snaps into the front usb of the ps3 would be nice. Then i would it consider buying it.

  • SHPanda #14 2 years ago

    So they're going to bring out a Coaxial Television Tuner that supports 3D media... What do they actually plan to watch through it? Am I missing something? Isn't 3D just on Sky at the moment?

    EDIT: I've noticed reports from months back saying Freeview are looking into 3D, but they were also looking into HD without the need for a dish and that's still not taken off...
    Edited by SHPanda at 09/07/10 @ 09:46

  • Markitron #15 2 years ago

    They really are throwing the kitchen sink at this, makes actually buying a 3dtv a less daunting prospect. If the price comes down I can see this really taking off..........

  • X201 #16 2 years ago

    "but they were also looking into HD without the need for a dish and that's still not taken off"

    er...?



  • rprince #17 2 years ago

    @X201: "The tests they carried out resulted in the broadcast taking up the equivalent room of nearly two channels."

    Funny that... ;-)

  • 3william56 #18 2 years ago

    Now, now gentlemen. Just because the UK went and adopted a tosh HD format, the rest of the world is using PlayTV for HD content very nicely, thank you very much. In fact, there's already a HD 3D demo channel here in Australia (just showreels for now). So if I'm ever tempted to don the mong specs and splash on a 3d telly, I'd be sorted once the update comes out.

    If I really want to see Bert "Moon Face" Newton's wig floating across my living room, that is...

    You should ebay your PlayTv down under - they're 70 quid here.

  • bodypopper #19 2 years ago

    Terrestrial 3D TV isn't going to happen any time soon in the UK. It's all hype.

  • vizzini #20 2 years ago

    Image compression for 3D over the superior DVB-T2 should be much better than you think; as both images contain a lot of colour information that will be the same and will help the signal to compress to almost half the size.

    In the worst case scenario; where an opaque surface sits between the two eyes, two truly separate images will be generated, but in this situation the quality would just have to be adjusted to work within the allotted bandwidth. 3D broadcasts will also save on the bandwidth of two channels, because 3D doesn't require any more audio bandwidth than a normal surround/DTS broadcast.

    So 3D over DVB-T2 should be quite possible within the bandwidth available for a single HD channel plus a single SD channel broadcast.
    Edited by vizzini at 09/07/10 @ 19:28

  • Arwin #21 2 years ago

    Not to mention that they just announced Cybershots that can do 3D pictures, handycams etc.
    Edited by Arwin at 09/07/10 @ 11:58

  • X201 #22 2 years ago

    "tosh HD format"

    Hare and Tortoise, Hare and Tortoise

  • alcides #23 2 years ago

    @Widge

    PlayTV is HD, it's you British folks who aren't.

  • Law07 #24 2 years ago

    @EarlBassett why did you throw it in the bin, instead of selling it and making money?

    These kind of actions make you a complete mong

  • SeesThroughAll #25 2 years ago

    The "Photo" menu now supports anaglyphs? Nice feature. :)

  • SHPanda #26 2 years ago

    @X201 and whoever else marked him up and neg'd me down.

    Why are you saying "...er?" to Freeview saying they were looking into doing HD without the use of a dish and we still haven't got it?

    Why is it confusing? The only way to get HD over Freeview is Freeview HD which requires a dish to be installed, simple as. The bandwidth an HD channel takes up over terrestrial is just too large. They say the only way they can 3D over terrestrial is by it using up the bandwidth of 2 channels, and that's not an HD image either, that's SD. So I don't want them cutting corners to bring 3D to market early, I'd prefer them to get HD working properly, then get 3D in HD.

    Simply put, would you rather have HD or 3D? I'd rather have HD, it's a much bigger step up than having 3D standard definition source material.

  • X201 #27 2 years ago

    @SHPanda

    "Freeview HD which requires a dish to be installed, simple as"

    You're wrong. Freeview HD via an aerial is available across the country with total coverage expected by the end of the year. No need for a dish.

    Just take a look at the Freeview site.


    Here's an entry from the Freeview HD FAQ
    "Will I need to change my aerial to get Freeview HD?

    The same aerial that you currently use to watch Freeview will receive the Freeview HD services when they are available in your area."


    Edited by X201 at 09/07/10 @ 19:11

  • vizzini #28 2 years ago

    SHPanda “were looking into doing HD without the use of a dish and we still haven't got it “

    BTW Free HD on a dish isn't Freeview HD, it is Freesat HD that you a referring to; it is very similar but is not the same consortium of broadcasters controlling it and gives a slightly different set of SD/HD channels.
    Edited by vizzini at 10/07/10 @ 12:50

  • zedzee #29 2 years ago

    No sooner have people gone for an HD television set, have the likes of Sony started shoving 3D-HD down their throats!

    Now we can see that the PS3 was indeed intended as a trojan horse, to sit under the television set and dictate the content and technology that Sony wants to push.

    It's nothing more than an empty vessel that they can use to peddle their goods on stupid consumers.

  • Theorendil #30 2 years ago

    Wow great, i bet the five people who own 3-D TVs and the ridiculously overpriced glasses that you need to buy seperately (at least where i come from) are really excited! The rest of us are probably pissed off at having to download ANOTHER useless mandatory firmware update... Sony, at least make this one optional for Elune's sake! 99.9 % of PS3 owners won't be using these features in September! I don't need 3-D Blu Ray support to play Call Of Duty online, do I?
    Edited by Theorendil at 10/07/10 @ 15:22

  • SilentNinja92 #31 2 years ago

    Thats fine but play tv needs more features. I use it and its great but the menu system and recording needs work. Just look at sky for pointers.