Sony Go Head-To-Head With Microsoft Over Non-Game Offerings

Gamasutra note that with Netflix, Hulu Plus and Sony's own PlayStation Video Delivery Service already available on the XMB, Sony is “making the integration of this non-gaming functionality a priority”. M2's Billy Pidgeon agrees.

“I think it’s a mandate with Sony not to just catch up with, but to surpass Microsoft, especially in the non-gaming functionality,” said Pidgeon. “What’s at stake here is the future of Xbox Live and the PlayStation Network. We’re going to be seeing more houses where there are two or more consoles – and the battle will come down to where do (non-gaming) family members spend their time?

“I think it’s kind of smart of them to [add VUDU]. “It’s better to give people more options. It does compete against their own service, but it helps Walmart and Walmart will help Sony. It’s coop-etition. This is the point in the lifecycle where people should be experimenting with things – and if Sony is able and willing to do that, then I see that as a positive.”

Pidgeon believes Sony still has "a lot of ground to cover" in order to catch up with Microsoft. It's a statement we're not sure we agree with. Surely there's an argument the PlayStation 3 already offers more content, with live baseball and NHL streaming also part of the roster in the US, and the BBC iPlayer, MUBI, Lovefilm and Vidzone in the UK.