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- From Amazon to Vudu, here's a running tally of the apps and streaming services available on the two new next-generation video game consoles. November 11, 2013 3:40 PM PST Hulu Plus on the Xbox One (Credit: Microsoft) The original Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 launched before Netflix streaming was even available. When the service debuted on living room devices in 2008, however, Microsoft's console was one of the first to get the dedicated Netflix app--available only to Xbox Live Gold members. Sony followed a year later with an all-new Netflix interface--and the requirement to use a special "streaming disc." You've come a long way, baby. Today umpteen living room devices stream Netflix and many, many other online video and audio services, and we call 'em apps. As increasingly important contributors to our boob tube time, apps are often used as points of comparison between devices. Although they won't as well-equipped as their predecessors at launch, plenty of apps have been announced for the the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. We compared how they stack up below, with the most important apps (note: editorial discretion employed) listed first. Some very important caveats: According to Microsoft, all of the Xbox One apps listed here will be available between the console's launch date and spring 2014. It's safe to assume some of them will be available launch day (November 22), but at least one--HBO Go--officially won't. The PS4 apps will all be available at the launch of that console (November 15). The apps listed here apply only to customers in the US. Xbox One owners need to also have an Xbox Live Gold subscription (up to $60 per year) to use any of the third-party entertainment apps, like Netflix; a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required to use the PS4's entertainment apps. Many of the apps require a separate monthly subscription (such as Netflix and Hulu Plus) or a compatible cable/satellite TV subscription (HBO Go, Fox Now, Watch ESPN, and others) to work on either console. With the exception of the Sony and Xbox services (which will always be restricted to their respective console), any of the "no" responses listed below could change to a "yes" if and when additional content deals are made in the future. We'll update this story once both consoles launch with additional specifics on app availability. App Xbox One PlayStation 4 Netflix Yes Yes Amazon Instant Video Yes Yes HBO Go Yes** No YouTube No No Vudu Yes Yes Hulu Plus Yes Yes Watch ESPN Yes No Redbox Instant Yes Yes NBA Game Time No Yes NHL GameCenter Live No Yes CWTV Yes No Epix No Yes Crunchyroll No Yes Fox Now Yes No FX Now Yes No Machinima Yes No Muzu TV Yes No Sony Music Unlimited No Yes Sony Music Unlimited No Yes Target Ticket Yes No TED Yes No The NFL on Xbox One Yes No Twitch Yes No Univision Deportes Yes No Verizon Fios TV Yes No Xbox Fitness Yes No Xbox Music Yes No Xbox Video Yes No Yupp TV No Yes **Officially "coming soon" to Xbox One.
From Amazon to Vudu, here's a running tally of the apps and streaming services available on the two new next-generation video game consoles. November 11, 2013 3:40 PM PST Hulu Plus on the Xbox One (Credit: Microsoft) The original Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 launched before Netflix streaming was even available. When the service debuted on living room devices in 2008, however, Microsoft's console was one of the first to get the dedicated Netflix app--available only to Xbox Live Gold members. Sony followed a year later with an all-new Netflix interface--and the requirement to use a special "streaming disc." You've come a long way, baby. Today umpteen living room devices stream Netflix and many, many other online video and audio services, and we call 'em apps. As increasingly important contributors to our boob tube time, apps are often used as points of comparison between devices. Although they won't as well-equipped as their predecessors at launch, plenty of apps have been announced for the the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. We compared how they stack up below, with the most important apps (note: editorial discretion employed) listed first. Some very important caveats: According to Microsoft, all of the Xbox One apps listed here will be available between the console's launch date and spring 2014. It's safe to assume some of them will be available launch day (November 22), but at least one--HBO Go--officially won't. The PS4 apps will all be available at the launch of that console (November 15). The apps listed here apply only to customers in the US. Xbox One owners need to also have an Xbox Live Gold subscription (up to $60 per year) to use any of the third-party entertainment apps, like Netflix; a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required to use the PS4's entertainment apps. Many of the apps require a separate monthly subscription (such as Netflix and Hulu Plus) or a compatible cable/satellite TV subscription (HBO Go, Fox Now, Watch ESPN, and others) to work on either console. With the exception of the Sony and Xbox services (which will always be restricted to their respective console), any of the "no" responses listed below could change to a "yes" if and when additional content deals are made in the future. We'll update this story once both consoles launch with additional specifics on app availability. App Xbox One PlayStation 4 Netflix Yes Yes Amazon Instant Video Yes Yes HBO Go Yes** No YouTube No No Vudu Yes Yes Hulu Plus Yes Yes Watch ESPN Yes No Redbox Instant Yes Yes NBA Game Time No Yes NHL GameCenter Live No Yes CWTV Yes No Epix No Yes Crunchyroll No Yes Fox Now Yes No FX Now Yes No Machinima Yes No Muzu TV Yes No Sony Music Unlimited No Yes Sony Music Unlimited No Yes Target Ticket Yes No TED Yes No The NFL on Xbox One Yes No Twitch Yes No Univision Deportes Yes No Verizon Fios TV Yes No Xbox Fitness Yes No Xbox Music Yes No Xbox Video Yes No Yupp TV No Yes **Officially "coming soon" to Xbox One.
From Amazon to Vudu, here's a running tally of the apps and streaming services available on the two new next-generation video game consoles.
(Credit: Microsoft)
The original Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 launched before Netflix streaming was even available.
When the service debuted on living room devices in 2008, however, Microsoft's console was one of the first to get the dedicated Netflix app--available only to Xbox Live Gold members. Sony followed a year later with an all-new Netflix interface--and the requirement to use a special "streaming disc."
You've come a long way, baby. Today umpteen living room devices stream Netflix and many, many other online video and audio services, and we call 'em apps. As increasingly important contributors to our boob tube time, apps are often used as points of comparison between devices.
Although they won't as well-equipped as their predecessors at launch, plenty of apps have been announced for the the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. We compared how they stack up below, with the most important apps (note: editorial discretion employed) listed first.
Some very important caveats:
- According to Microsoft, all of the Xbox One apps listed here will be available between the console's launch date and spring 2014. It's safe to assume some of them will be available launch day (November 22), but at least one--HBO Go--officially won't.
- The PS4 apps will all be available at the launch of that console (November 15).
- The apps listed here apply only to customers in the US.
- Xbox One owners need to also have an Xbox Live Gold subscription (up to $60 per year) to use any of the third-party entertainment apps, like Netflix; a PlayStation Plus subscription is not required to use the PS4's entertainment apps.
- Many of the apps require a separate monthly subscription (such as Netflix and Hulu Plus) or a compatible cable/satellite TV subscription (HBO Go, Fox Now, Watch ESPN, and others) to work on either console.
- With the exception of the Sony and Xbox services (which will always be restricted to their respective console), any of the "no" responses listed below could change to a "yes" if and when additional content deals are made in the future.
- We'll update this story once both consoles launch with additional specifics on app availability.
App | Xbox One | PlayStation 4 |
---|---|---|
Netflix | Yes | Yes |
Amazon Instant Video | Yes | Yes |
HBO Go | Yes** | No |
YouTube | No | No |
Vudu | Yes | Yes |
Hulu Plus | Yes | Yes |
Watch ESPN | Yes | No |
Redbox Instant | Yes | Yes |
NBA Game Time | No | Yes |
NHL GameCenter Live | No | Yes |
CWTV | Yes | No |
Epix | No | Yes |
Crunchyroll | No | Yes |
Fox Now | Yes | No |
FX Now | Yes | No |
Machinima | Yes | No |
Muzu TV | Yes | No |
Sony Music Unlimited | No | Yes |
Sony Music Unlimited | No | Yes |
Target Ticket | Yes | No |
TED | Yes | No |
The NFL on Xbox One | Yes | No |
Twitch | Yes | No |
Univision Deportes | Yes | No |
Verizon Fios TV | Yes | No |
Xbox Fitness | Yes | No |
Xbox Music | Yes | No |
Xbox Video | Yes | No |
Yupp TV | No | Yes |
**Officially "coming soon" to Xbox One.