HiGame

If you’re a PS3 or PS4 user, your media streaming needs are finally being met. Earlier this week, Plex announced that native media streaming clients are being released on both the PS3 and PS4, so the existing in-browser and DLNA solutions are no longer the only options. Unfortunately, the app isn’t being released in the US just yet. Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania are the only markets with access for the time being.
In a post on the Plex blog, the long and arduous porting process for the Sony platforms is explained. Unfortunately, the exact reasoning behind the delay in North and South America isn’t made clear. However, we talked to the Plex PR team, and they confirmed that Plex on PS3 and PS4 will be demoed at CES, and will be launching in the US in early 2015. I’m not thrilled about having to wait, but at least now we know that it’s definitely coming. For now, people in over 40 countries can enjoy a native Plex experience on Sony consoles.



Keep in mind, this dedicated client comes at a cost. Currently, only paying Plex Pass members have access. Eventually, the console clients will be made available for purchase separately. Considering that you can only access your media for free in the PS4 browser and through the PS3’s built-in DLNA client, this is a reasonable charge. It clearly took a lot of work to make the native client, and paying for the streamlined experience seems completely fair to me. On top of that, the Plex Pass offers loads of other neat features, so it’s hard to complain.

It’s also worth noting that this app is still in its infancy. Music, photos, and Plex channels aren’t currently supported, but they will be patched in at a later date. Also, only a select few types of movies can be played back natively on the PS4. If you’re using encoding standards other than H.264 and AAC, Plex will need to transcode them on the fly. It’s certainly not the end of the world, but remember that you’ll lose some quality in the process.
If you own an Xbox One or Xbox 360, Plex has been available for months now. Simply download the app, sign up for Plex Pass, do the initial set-up, and you’re ready to rock. Of course, the same can be said for Vizio Smart TVs, iOS, and Android, so this is just one more bullet point for the incredibly flexible service.


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