Netflix coming to Xbox 360 and PS3?
By Joshua Topolsky 
posted February 11th 2008 11:46PM
posted February 11th 2008 11:46PM
According to a blogged up blog post on the interblogs, a Netflix survey that's supposedly been making the rounds suggests that the service may be coming to both the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. If you believe what Seanbajuice has to say, the survey asked, "If as part of your Netflix membership you could instantly watch movies and TV episodes on your TV with your PS/3 or XBOX 360, how likely would you/anyone in your household be to do that?" The survey then goes on to state that both the PS3 and the 360 will be able to play streaming media by using a "special Netflix disc." Here's the kicker: there won't be any extra fees besides the $3 charge for the disc. Of course, nothing is mentioned about how the PS3 will handle the Microsoft-based DRM, and while the whole thing sounds too good to be true, there have been rumblings about this recently, so let's just cross our fingers and make a wish, okay?
This would force me to buy a subscription. Do it netflix. You'll be rolling in $$$.
For me I'm the opposite. If Netflix can pull this off I'll buy an Xbox or ps3. I'm more of a movie buff than a gamer, but do want to play some of the titles--COD 4, Bioshock--on the consoles.
Not sure where everyone is going with this only being on PS3...if anything it's going to be only on the 360. Not because of it being better, or more accessible to Netflix - but keep in mind that Netflix also only runs on the Microsoft internet browser for streaming content as it stands right now. I certainly don't know the specifics of if it's only MS because of it's market share or if windows media player is the base to Netflix's streaming player and it's part of the licensing. If it was entirely proprietary I'd imagine it work on Safari and Firefox as well...I mean why not? Streaming Netflix to my iPhone and other video phones would be awfully cool as a side note...
and the last time I checked the 360 has Internet Explorer as its internet browser-wait, the 360 doesn't have an internet browser at all.
The disc that is brought up in the article is most likely the software that is designed for the system. You would do an install and it would add a new cross section in the XMB and a new blade on the 360.
Its really not that complicated. The Netflix movie downloads can be possible on both systems. Don't think they are simply porting over the version that is used on their website. Its not that simple. Especially since they are already converting the whole system over to Silverlight which runs on most browsers.
@Luis
I think you are being a little presumptuous about the netflix disc. No where does it say anything about that type of install. If it was just an install disc then there would be no reason for it not to be a download on live. Also, if they're charging you for the disc it's probably necessary to have it whenever you need to watch something. Otherwise it would seem like netflix would just send out that disc when you put it in your queue and you could just send it back free of charge. The 3 dollars spent isn't enough for netflix to be looking to make money but rather to cover overhead costs. If they were trying to make more money straight from this then they would just add to the subscription cost.
In my mind, if a disc is necessary and you're only paying a small price for it, then it's probably not just an install disc but necessary to use whenever you want to play a game.
While this is pretty cool, I wouldn't get too excited. If Netflix is going to be offering the same media they offer through internet streaming, the choices are pretty slim. With exception of some anime and TV shows (Law and Order: SVU FTW), the media offered is 90% crap. Hopefully that will change.
If they put all their older movies including HD in watch now, charge a couple extra dollars a month for the service and let it run on both consoles then they'd make bank. Gone would be the need for Blu-ray. Sony wouldn't allow it though. They've lost enough money trying to push their technology on us. Why aren't stand alone BD players significantly less expensive than a PS3? Gee I wonder...
I just canceled a trial membership with Netflix, due to not being able to use their watch it now, program, on my XP x64 OS, if they added it to my PS3 I would re-sign up with them.
(its stupid that Microsoft doesn't have their WMP-11 on their own OS)
Worked just fine for me. Just needed to to run the 32 bit version of IE.
thanks for the info, I will check it out.
score!! im in for this
And once again we see the problem with the xbox 360 sounding like a minor vacuum cleaner. I really like my xbox 360 for its games but from a engineering POW it's fairly lacking and I still don't understand how MS expects me to use it for watching movies or listening to music when it sounds the way is does. And for those wondering - I have a nice 5.1 setup so while I'm able to drown the sound from the xbox I don't think it's the perfect solution for obvious reasons.
Just to let you know the HD-DVD player is much quieter and when in use the regular drive obviously isn't on. I'm not sure if you'd want to buy it but it's getting a lot cheaper anyway.
This'd be cool, but i'd rather see Netflix watch-it-now on my AppleTV. :)
(probably not happening...)
Welcome to the beauty of technology in 2008.
You seem very naive to the fact that it is entirely possible to 'stream' full 1080P HD movies down the pipeline. All it is, is more size and bandwidth.
Maybe not right NOW you don't want to view 720P 'HD', but then again, it IS on your computer and unless you have a 32" monitor or bigger, you're not going to know the difference sitting only 12 inches away.
20 years ago it would take all night to download a 2MB file from an FTP. And 20 years from now we will be downloading 2EB's of information in a single minute, Mr. Ignorant
I'd use this, but only if I did not have to have a disc inserted in the XBox all the time. A disc makes the service unusable. Also, it would need to support the full standard and HD resolutions, not the little player window they use right now (which is fine for a computer screen, but not my TV!)
XBL Marketplace > Netflix Watch now if you own a HDTV.
Either way though both services don't offer HD content at a high (enough) bitrate to please a lot of HDTV owners. And it's usually streamed over G networks that don't stream the higher than standard bitrate content very well. Anyone ever stream WMV-HD files over their network? Not so fantastic.
If Comcast (and other providers) can offer a larger variety of HD content via VOD and make it available same day as they release as normal rentals - they'd own them all. Comcast VOD is 1080i for their HD content right now and uses less compression compared to Marketplace which is at 720p. Compression playing the bigger role in image quality or lack of.
If you have a Windows Media Center PC and are using the 360 as an extender, this is almost already available. There is a plugin named MyNetflix that can already stream vidoes on Media Center and the developer is going to try to get streaming to media center extenders working hopefully http://www.anpark.com/index.php/2008/02/10/new-vista-media-center-plugin-mynetflix-beta/
If you are a Netflix subscriber, and you like this idea, tell them! If they get a few hundred thousand pieces of feedback from their comment page that says "Yes, we would LOVE Netflix via PS3 and/or XBOX 360", it will keep them moving in the right direction.
Will this mean that Netflix might start renting Xbox-360 and Playstation games? Oh that would be soo sweet!
What about giving some love to Linux?
I really hope that Netflix brings this to Wii!
Netflix doesn't offer HD content, so HD isn't an issue. The only real issue would be whether the movie is truly streaming or if it storage space is needed. If storage is needed, I'm sure they could somehow work it so that you could watch movies if you had an SD card inserted.
What... I have to use the DVD player to view downloaded movies!?!? Just when I was hoping I'd be able to listen to my movies without turning up the volume to MAX in order to overtake the jet engine noise coming from the Xbox...
If Netflix does do this, I will start my subscription back so fast it'll make their heads spin. $3 one-time fee plus the Netflix monthly subscription fee is an extraordinary value!
This is a sign of things to come for television. I honestly believe that the future of TV is choice--what you want to watch, when you want to watch it, not when the networks say you should. Apple is close with this concept but it's too fracking expensive: $230-$330 plus rental fees and TV show/movie purchases, ouch! Many own a PS3 or 360 (hmm what about the Wii? I'm sure if storage is the issue, they could use a SD card... anyway back at the rant...) and have broadband so there's no additional hardware to buy. Then you can watch as many movies as you want a-la-carte... GREAT! This will blow Apple out of the water and seriously force them to reconsider their strategy. The only thing missing from Netflix is on-demand shows (I think they don't offer TV shows... I have not been with Netflix since they started the whole on-demand movie thing).
For those who still would like to "own" their movies or shows (if Netflix ever expands their selection to include TV shows), they should be able to buy it and download it to their PCs, so the consumer can view it on their PMPs and the like.
Well, I'm excited! If Netflix is reading this and couldn't tell from my rant: IF YOU DO THIS, I WILL START MY SUBSCRIPTION AGAIN AND I WILL PURCHASE ONE OF THESE DISCS.
Wow Engadget's reply system is really screwed up.
This was @why not the LS2/LS7? on the previous page.
Damn.
Sounds like a good idea. I would definitely subscribe to this service if it were available. http://www.freegamesystems.info
I already have this, and I don't even have to use my 360!! A dvi to hdmi cable is a bit less expensive than a 360 too if you don't have a 360 already.