Sony Pictures celebrates NXE eve by... blocking Xbox 360 Netflix movie streaming

Just hours before the Xbox 360's newest dashboard update hits tomorrow morning (10:00 a.m. GMT), our friends at Joystiq noticed the list of movies available for Netflix Watch Instantly streaming has suddenly dropped. The culprit? Sony Pictures Home Entertainment subsidiary Columbia Pictures, flicking previously available titles like Superbad, Bad Boys, and We Own the Night over to "Not available on Xbox" status (curiously, SPHE movies are still available to all.) Word from the official Netflix blog cites "the ebb and flow" of what is available on license at any given time causing a few hundred titles to be "temporarily" unavailable on the console, while still open for streaming for other devices, with an eye towards licensing them for the Xbox 360 soon. There's no way to know what movies won't work until adding them to your queue, so when you find your Karate Kid trilogy watching time suddenly wide open for more Gears of War 2 or Left 4 Dead action, just remember you have Sony to thank.

[Via Joystiq & Multiplayer]

[sideshowRaheem @ Nov 18th 2008 10:22PM]

Sad.....but expected.

[Pip @ Nov 18th 2008 11:00PM]

This is really just embarrassing for Sony. It's quite childish and really doesn't help Sony's already fairly low image. Come on Sony...

Microsoft is doing what you have been unable to... create a good online marketplace for content

[Ayrkain @ Nov 18th 2008 11:20PM]

Netflix is a 360 console exclusive service right now. That's pretty childish too.

[3dpenguin @ Nov 18th 2008 11:36PM]

Ayrkain, and Sony/BDA signing exclusive deals with Fox and Disney before Blu-ray even launched and SPS refusing to release on HD DVD was real mature also, same shoe different foot.

[phinn @ Nov 18th 2008 11:43PM]

Sad, expected, and warranted. Micro$oft paid all this money to get "exclusive" Netflix streaming when both systems could have easily done it.

Besides, who cares about all this, PS3 can easily stream any Netflix movie with the PlayOn media server right now, I use it all the time when I'm not gaming or playing Blu-rays on it (much better quality than anything else anyway).

[nohone @ Nov 18th 2008 11:42PM]

@Ayrkain

So then is Sony being childish keeping R2, LBP, MGS, GT5P, Ratchet, Uncharted, and Heavenly Sword (or others from 3rd party studios) exclusive to the PS3? What about those HD movies from Sony Pictures or Columbia that were BD exclusive and not released on HD DVD, was that childish? Or how about having Fox, Disney, etc. being exclusive to BD?

[Ayrkain @ Nov 19th 2008 12:38AM]

Where's Gears, Halo and Left4Dead on the PS3? Disabling a service that we know is possible (PlayOn does it right now) via an exclusivity deal is just as lame as this. The difference? It's happening to 360 fans now. Really though, this has nothing to do with the console wars and everything to do with renegotiating HD streaming licenses.

[nikster @ Nov 19th 2008 1:35AM]

@all: They're not childish. They're greedy. That's a difference.

[Ayman @ Nov 19th 2008 5:02AM]

you know whats missing

"Mohahahahaha..............................."

[M$FT @ Nov 19th 2008 8:18AM]

Sony is 100% right ! Xbox 360 sucks.....

[Skazer @ Nov 19th 2008 8:57AM]

Wow, how disappointing of Engadget's readers. Instead of reading the article thoroughly and thinking about it, you all jump to conclusions and reveal your fanboy sides. Ironically, a lot of you also complain about how Engadget writers love Apple too much. I saw only about 1 reasonable post (chefgon_ign) that considered how this situation didn't make sense.

Only moves from Columbia Pictures are offline. Why aren't the other movies from Sony labels offline? Oh wait, it's because "Today, titles regularly come in and out of license and there is a natural ebb and flow to what we have on license at any given point in time."

[Cool8man @ Nov 19th 2008 9:01AM]

If Netflix's licensing terms gives the movie studios power to dictate which hardware manufacturers are allowed to show their movies and which aren't then the licensing terms are giving the studios too much power. This is the equivalent of Sony licensing their movies to HBO but saying that DirectTV subscribers are not allowed to view Sony's movies on HBO.

[High Ranks make you sterile @ Nov 19th 2008 9:01AM]

There's way too much stupid going on in this comment thread. I'm going to call out of work because my head hurts.

[springer5150 @ Nov 19th 2008 9:58AM]

The main reason M$ went with Netflix was to gain access to all the movies they couldn't get otherwise. Looks like that backfired on them.

[BananaBoat @ Nov 19th 2008 10:17AM]

@skazer - I agree with you that a ton of people can't seem to separate their gaming related fanboyism (which, I assume, doesn't extend to movies. For instance, a 360 fanboy wouldn't boycott a Sony Pictures movie....probably) from the issue at hand. I don't buy their ebb and flow statement though. The timing is just too close to the NXE launch for it to be a big coincidence, especially considering that the content is only "not available on Xbox" and available on the PC. The knee jerk reaction to this story was that Sony is being a giant douche here (for me). After sleeping on it, I still can't think of any possible motive for Sony to pull Columbia pictures titles, except for that most people wouldn't equate Columbia with Sony, and thus they didn't think it would be a big deal PR-wise. If that is the case, then they were wrong. Had they really wanted to be bastards, they could have pulled Sony branded content, which they reportedly haven't done, and the only reason I can think of as to why, is that Sony didn't want their name associated with the blocking of content. Then again, sure this could all be one big coincidence and Sony is just an unfortunate victim of circumstance. I don't buy it though.

@cool8man - I'm also intrigued by how they could hold such power. A 360 is a computer, why would Netflix ever have negotiated terms that involved the 360 licensing being separate than the PC licensing? I have a feeling that Sony probably had something to do with that, but then again, I don't want to make an accusation without even a sliver of supporting evidence.

[Chip @ Nov 19th 2008 11:03AM]

@bananaboat
360 and PC are not the only NetFlix streaming devices. Since these streaming films are still available to the Roku Netflix Player, apparently there is fine grained access control available, allowing for individual devices to be blocked on a per-movie basis.

[kal326 @ Nov 19th 2008 12:10PM]

Found a contact email for Sony Pictures, figured I'd give them my two cents on this matter.
mailto:[e-mail]

Found the link on:
http://www.sonypictures.com/corp/sonypicturesfaq.html#9

I figured these actions full under the contact of "For problems with Sony Pictures Home Entertainment products please email"

Yeah, my problem is that you entertainment products were pulled from Netflix streaming on the 360.

[kballs @ Nov 19th 2008 4:58PM]

So when is Sony going to block playback of their Blu-Ray movies on non-Sony (Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Sharp) Blu-Ray players?

[Gokie @ Nov 18th 2008 10:22PM]

While I won't say this is a classy move on Sony's part, it is quite shrewd, and almost funny.

[Jander @ Nov 18th 2008 11:50PM]

I've personally been wondering when Sony was going to start to synergize its media holdings with its hardware offerings. Looks perfectly legitimate to me, somewhat douchey, but legit. How do they put it? Oh yeah, "It's business."

[kal326 @ Nov 19th 2008 12:06AM]

You know what would be an even more shrewd and ultimately more humorous? If Sony found licenses for Windows OS temporarily unavailable. Then Sony would have a hell of a time selling any of its computers through retail channels. Its not like it hasn't happened before with other suppliers, back in the good old days if you pissed of Intel you soon found yourself at the unfortunate end of a processor supply shortage.

[Mr.Ironic @ Nov 19th 2008 1:00AM]

That would be pretty funny though.

Though PS3 dos run linux doesn't it. That would be an interesting event.

[balls @ Nov 19th 2008 1:41AM]

Other End of processor supply = Cyrix Processors!

[KarlW @ Nov 19th 2008 2:47AM]

This isn't good business. Integrated strategies don't work. You don't win people over, you just lose sales. Sony aren't big enough to pressure Microsoft. You see, Microsoft needs movie studios for the 360, but the movie studios need Microsoft's co-operation with DRM even more.

I hope for Sony's sake this isn't console war related. If it is, they're in trouble, and lost potential revenues aren't even the start of it.

[HunterNIU @ Nov 19th 2008 1:13PM]

OMG YES! MS take away all DRM usage for Sony. Tell them they can go fend.

Seriously, I will not buy anything Sony at all until this is resolved. What a bunch of whiny babies. Why not... um, I dont know... put the customer first.

RB2 and GHWT had to settle it and make instruments cross compatible because it was best for us, now get over yourself Sony.

[sabih @ Nov 18th 2008 10:23PM]

What douchbags

[)ROFL( @ Nov 18th 2008 10:43PM]

Honestly, it's not like SONY produces too many good movies. I'm pretty sure that I'll be content without SONY's trash.

[Mike @ Nov 18th 2008 11:07PM]

yea....what the other guy said. if you goto sony's dvd site, you'll see their selection is your typical list of movies that "you aren't even motivated enough to rent"

[Matthew @ Nov 19th 2008 5:55AM]

Superbad was pretty F-ing funny though.

[Rob Bourne @ Nov 19th 2008 8:21AM]

It really wasn't

[KenC @ Nov 18th 2008 10:23PM]

This stinks of Sony seriously no matter how Netflix wants to pretty it up.... Sony waiting till the eve of this (if it was an issue why did it work before now? There have been people using netflix for weeks thanks to Major Nelsons preview) Sony just freaked out and realized they may actually have to prove their console is the "Entertainment console of choice"

[tX2 @ Nov 18th 2008 10:25PM]

I hate business

[Evangelion @ Nov 18th 2008 11:17PM]

Internetz is serious business.

[xmrgamerx @ Nov 18th 2008 10:24PM]

of course they would block the 360, why would anyone in their right mind support their enemy. im foreseeing this feature appearing in home. . . if it ever comes out.

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Nov 18th 2008 10:25PM]

couple more weeks to go.

[Tony @ Nov 18th 2008 10:39PM]

it wont be in Home. Netflix and microsoft have an exclusive agreement for streaming ONLY on 360. This is why i'm happy that Sony just did that. If we cant have it, NOBODY CAN! hahah. But no, seriously, i'd rather just have netflix on my ps3....

[Nytrojen @ Nov 18th 2008 10:59PM]

Tall-poppy-syndrome much?

[The Aggie CEO @ Nov 18th 2008 11:58PM]

@Tony.........no they dont......they are simply doing it first.......there is NOTHING exclusive about it......

[Evan @ Nov 19th 2008 3:45AM]

Don't be a narrow-minded fool. Sony's and Microsoft's businesses cross paths in more than one arena.

Ever heard of Windows? It comes pre-installed on virtually every Sony computer for sale. One company starts hitting the stop button here and there, and then the other one does too.

I can see it now, in Ballmer's office, "So they don't want us playing there movies, lets see how fast those computers move off the shelf with invalid Windows licenses. And if I remember correctly, I think they are building some phones with Windows Mobile, not anymore! While we're at it, lets break BD drivers in Windows... maybe Jobs was on to something after all! Hahahaha, I've been waiting years to do this, thank god they gave me a reason!"

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 19th 2008 8:25AM]

It would be an awesome move for Linux and Mac (if Sony worked out a deal with Apple) in the event that Microsoft pulled the strings. I welcome it.

[Prince Ali @ Nov 19th 2008 9:48AM]

@ Andir
Do you really think Apple would start licensing OS X and give up their hardware mark-up cash cow for Sony? If they did, Apple would price OS X at a very pretty penny, in which case Sony computer's would cost more then Apple's.

Linux is still too niche for Sony to adopt as a consumer OS.

I'm not an MS fanboy, just stating the facts.

[Bryant @ Nov 19th 2008 10:00AM]

@Andir3.0 "It would be an awesome move for Linux and Mac (if Sony worked out a deal with Apple) in the event that Microsoft pulled the strings. I welcome it."

Suddenly, Sony has to tell its customers it can no longer sell Windows, which all of its customers use, and that all current keys handed to Sony can no longer activate or validate with WGA. I'm sure that makes perfect sense. Absolutely. Perfect. Sense.

Right. Tell me, are you a business major?

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:29PM]

Nope... not a business major ... but if you find a problem with Microsoft having that much power over the industry (world?) then you need to get off my planet.

[Andir3.0 @ Nov 19th 2008 4:30PM]

err, if you don't find a problem... *

[Evangelion @ Nov 18th 2008 10:23PM]

Thats pretty childish IMO.

[Surfaced @ Nov 18th 2008 10:34PM]

So are you, Shinji.

[zomg0t @ Nov 18th 2008 10:59PM]

C'mon, Surfaced's comment wasn't THAT bad... I found it mildly amusing.

[Surfaced @ Nov 18th 2008 11:11PM]

Wow.... was not expecting that reaction.

[Invisiblemoose @ Nov 19th 2008 12:08AM]

Yeah, me neither. Plus 1 for the NGE reference...

[kal326 @ Nov 19th 2008 12:03PM]

@InvisibleMoose

Odd to see you get the low rank as well as what you said was exactly correct. It was a NGE ref and the original poster has Nerv and the name Evangelion, not really hard to make the connection.