PlayStation Store redesign being considered

Sony's Greg Belloni told Shacknews that the company is hoping to make the enhanced experience offered by the Video Unlimited app standard, not only for videos, but for games as well.

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The consolidation of Sony's online services, such as Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited, and the PlayStation Network, into the Sony Entertainment Network has the company looking at new ways of presenting a unified experience across all its devices. The company recently launched the Video Unlimited "preview" app, which allows PS3 owners to browse Sony's video offerings in a brand new way.

Greg Belloni, senior manager of corporate communications at Sony Network Entertainment, told Shacknews at Pepcom that the company is hoping to make the enhanced experience offered by the standalone app standard, not only for videos, but for games as well.

Belloni wouldn't confirm an exact timeline or roadmap, saying that the company is simply exploring its options at the moment.

Belloni was candid about possible upgrades to Sony's video offerings, including support for streaming media. While Video Unlimited offers streaming playback on a variety of devices, such as Blu-ray disc players and Bravia televisions, the PS3 requires users to download a file before watching. While a switch to streaming is being considered, Belloni did say that the company was not considering offering a cloud-based media library, like the ones offered by iTunes and Amazon.

When quizzed on the possibility of offering season passes, where a year's worth of episodes could be purchased at a discount, Belloni could not offer a comment. The Wall Street Journal recently wrote about Sony's plans to launch television subscriptions. Among the companies supposedly approached by Sony are Comcast, Discovery, and News Corp. If these discussions are fruitful, the company would be able to better compete with Xbox Live's television initiative, which launches later this year.

Andrew Yoon was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

From The Chatty
  • reply
    November 18, 2011 9:45 AM

    Andrew Yoon posted a new article, PlayStation Store redesign being considered.

    Sony's Greg Belloni told Shacknews that the company is hoping to make the enhanced experience offered by the Video Unlimited app standard, not only for videos, but for games as well.

    • reply
      November 18, 2011 11:16 AM

      It's amazing how many button presses downloading one demo can take.

      • reply
        November 18, 2011 11:18 AM

        It's a minigame all in itself, a QTE almost. They just need to toss in Trophy support.

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      November 18, 2011 11:18 AM

      The only redesign necessary is at least a freaking video of games if you are not going to provide a demo.

      • Ebu legacy 10 years legacy 20 years
        reply
        November 18, 2011 1:08 PM

        EVERY entry on the store should offer a video, screenshots, and a good description of the gameplay, not just the little marketing blurb for Christina Lee to read for the Pulse ad.

        This is a HUGE missed opportunity for Sony.

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      November 18, 2011 11:08 PM

      I've said it before but dang it I will say it again: PSN Store is the biggest clusterfuck ever. You can never find shit there. They should look at MS to see how to present games online. MS fucks a lot of shit up, but their XBOX Live store is perfect, very easy to navigate, see what's new, and try games.

    • reply
      November 18, 2011 11:13 PM

      Love the PS Store to be redesigned. If they fuck with the XMB I will fucking desecrate their forums with foul words for a million years.

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