The Xbox 360 won't be the only console with streaming Netflix capabilities for much longer, as Sony and Netflix today revealed that the PlayStation 3 will begin providing a similar service as soon as this November. Just a little over a year after the service first came to Xbox Live Gold members, Netflix subscribers will be able to access streaming content from their accounts from PS3's as well.
"Netflix expects to begin streaming via the PS3 system next month at no additional cost to Netflix members in the United States who have a PS3 system," announced a press release this morning that was posted to the PlayStation Blog.
Since the PS3 has no Gold subscription service equivalent, the price of a Netflix subscription will be the only price barrier to initializing the new service. The process of installing the Netflix streaming capability to a PS3, will be somewhat less orthodox, however.
"Initially, watching movies instantly streamed from Netflix via the PS3 system will be enabled by a free, instant streaming Blu-ray disc that is being made available to all Netflix members," the press release stated. "The free instant streaming disc leverages Blu-ray’s BD-Live technology to access the Internet and activate the Netflix user interface on the PS3 system, which must be online via Wi-Fi or Ethernet."
Netflix users can sign up to receive that free Blu-ray disc at the Netflix website. Whether there will be a firmware update to accompany this software installation will remain to be seen, but if you're a current subscriber, you'd be well served to go ahead and request your disc now.
Do you plan on using the PS3's new Netflix Streaming capability? Have you been waiting to hear Sony announce something like this, or have you been content with the movies already available on PSN? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.