PlayStation TV arrives in North America on October 14

By Will Fulton August 18, 2014

sony ending production of playstation tv in japan 2 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

PlayStation TV, the game and media streaming device that was confirmed for a North American release at E3 2014, will arrive on October 14, 2014, as Sony confirmed on Twitter. The device competes with Roku, Amazon Fire TV, and Apple TV as a small, inexpensive set-top box for streaming media, but with one crucial difference: Access to a catalogue of over 1,000 games from PS Vita, PSP, and PSOne.

Related: Can Sony put the ‘TV’ into its new Playstation TV media device?

The PlayStation TV serves as the hardware front of Sony’s PlayStation Now game streaming service, which recently entered a limited beta on Sony’s consoles and select Bravia television sets. The box will cost $100, and it will also be available in a $140 bundle that includes a DualShock 3 controller, 8 GB memory card, HDMI cable, and a copy of the LEGO Movie: The Video Game.

More than just streaming games and Netflix, the PlayStation TV marks the next step toward Sony’s ambitions of creating an Internet-based streaming TV service. Given Sony’s established strong position in both gaming and television/film production, it might be the best equipped tech giant to actually bring this sort of service to fruition, putting another nail in the coffin of non-Internet broadcasting.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Will Fulton is a New York-based writer and theater-maker. In 2011 he co-founded mythic theater company AntiMatter Collective…

Gaming

PlayStation Portal 2: 8 features we want in Sony’s next-gen handheld

A PlayStation Portal boots up.

After the PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita, there wasn't much hope that Sony would create another handheld system. Both consoles failed to establish themselves as meaningful parts of PlayStation's ecosystems despite having passionate fan bases. That's what made the initial reveal of the PlayStation Portal so surprising, at least until we knew exactly what it was. As an accessory, the PlayStation Portal is a decent device for some situations. It makes remote play easy and combines all the cool features of the DualSense controller with a great display. However, it does leave a lot to be desired for those hoping for a bit more from a new PlayStation device. Should Sony decide to iterate on this novel idea, there are a few features we think it needs to have to be a true success.

We're not going to ask Sony to completely overhaul what it established with the PlayStation Portal. For as much as we'd love for a fully dedicated handheld like a Vita 2, that's just too far beyond what we can hope for.
Wi-Fi 6

Gaming

Xbox, PlayStation, and PC: Is Elden Ring cross-platform?

Characters fighting on horseback in Elden Ring.

When it launched in 2022, Elden Ring was an immediate hit. The challenging game took everything great from previous FromSoftware titles and merged it with a sweeping open world to explore -- letting players venture in any direction just a few minutes after starting the game. That also made it incredibly daunting. Not only did you have to contend with nightmarish monsters and rage-inducing combat, but you had to figure out how to best reach your next destination without stumbling upon enemies that were twice your skill level.

Thankfully, Elden Ring makes use of a (cryptic) multiplayer system, allowing you to explore the Lands Between with a buddy by your side. You can also read and leave messages for other players, giving them tips and tricks to guide their journey. But is Elden Ring cross-platform, or are you stuck playing with folks on the same platform as you?

Gaming

I was a PlayStation Portal hater. Now it’s one of my go-to gaming devices

A PlayStation Portal plays Marvel's Spider-Man 2.

In November, I reviewed the PlayStation Portal. I was mixed on Sony’s streaming handheld at the time, frustrated with a corner-cutting execution of a good idea. It seemed like a poor value compared to simply slapping a cheaper Backbone controller on a phone. As is often the case with tech reviews, though, I only had a short window to test it out where I was more focused on the more objective side of what the Portal does and doesn’t do. Would my feelings change when I was using it naturally?

I’ve gotten the answer to that question over the past few months. While I barely touched my Portal after reviewing it in 2023, it’s quickly become a go-to device in my home as of January. I’m now breaking it out at least once a week, finding some practical use cases for it. Though my overall assessment of it hasn’t changed, I have a more tangible understanding of where it can be a useful -- if superfluous -- PS5 companion. It’s a needless luxury, but one that I’m finding that I'm happy to indulge in.
Second screen
The PlayStation Portal’s launch just so happened to come right before a major life change that would shift my perspective. After living alone for three years, my girlfriend moved into my apartment last December. It’s been a natural change that’s working great so far. That shift does come with some lifestyle changes, though. We’re both crammed into a one-bedroom apartment, which means we’re sharing a tight space. We remotely do our jobs feet apart in the same room, and most evenings are spent lounging on the couch.