PS3(TM) Owners Will Soon Enjoy Downloadable Movie Content, Games And More
With Blu-ray Disc(TM) Profile 2.0; PS3’s Interoperability With PSP(R) Will
Also Be Enhanced

FOSTER CITY, Calif., March 20 /PRNewswire/ — Sony Computer
Entertainment America (SCEA) today announced that the next system software
update for PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, slated
for release in late March, will add Blu-ray Disc(TM) (BD) Profile 2.0 or
BD-LIVE, enabling PS3 owners to experience interactive features, such as
downloadable video content, ringtones, games, and more.

In addition to
BD-LIVE, the system software update (v. 2.20) will enable photo and music
playlists on PS3 to be copied to PSP(R)(PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld
entertainment system, among other new features. These updates demonstrate
how PS3 continues to evolve as a home entertainment hub with the
flexibility to deliver the newest technology innovations that benefit PS3
owners.

“With Blu-ray established as the high-definition optical disc standard,
more consumers are ready to jump in and take advantage of everything the
format offers,” said Scott A. Steinberg, vice president, product marketing,
SCEA. “Whether you want to download movie extras, send ringtones to your
phone, or play interactive games, BD-LIVE will offer exciting new ways to
enjoy a Blu-ray movie. With these regular firmware updates and
future-proofed technology, SCEA is making the 10-year lifecycle of PS3
possible.”

BD Profile 2.0 requires an Internet connection and at least 1GB of
local storage. The following features have all been demonstrated as
possibilities with BD-Live and will vary by movie title.

– A variety of downloadable content can be offered, including bonus
scenes, shorts, trailers, subtitles, ringtones that can be sent to
mobile phones, images, and more.
– Interactive movie-based games can pit players who are sitting in the
same room, or are across the world and online, against each other.

In conjunction with the PS3 firmware update, Sony Pictures Home
Entertainment (SPHE) is pleased to announce two BD-LIVE enabled titles to
be released on April 8 - Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story and The 6th Day.
Both titles will include exclusive downloadable content that goes beyond
what is available on the actual Blu-ray discs. These initial releases
preview some of the exciting new developments that will soon be available
from BD-LIVE on Blu- ray disc.

Beyond BD-LIVE, the new system software update enhances PS3 system’s
interoperability with PSP system, enabling users to take their favorite
music and photo playlists with them on-the-go with their PSP. To copy a
playlist, PSP and PS3 must first be connected with a USB cable, and the PSP
must be in USB mode. Then, on PS3, select “Copy” in the option menu of each
music or photo playlist, and choose PSP as the destination. Now the
playlist order, and the songs or photos themselves, will be accessible on
the PSP’s Memory Stick PRO Duo anytime, anywhere. This new functionality
makes it easer than ever to share media content between the two systems.

The following new features will also be included in the system software
update.

– “Resume play” will enable PS3 system to start playing a Blu-ray disc
and DVD at the point it was stopped, even if the disc had been
removed.(*1)
– “Audio Output Device” will be a new Remote Play setting, enabling PSP
to serve as a remote control for music played through PS3.
– PS3 system’s Internet browser will be enhanced: Video files directly
linked from a Web page will be able to be streamed, and the browser’s
view speed will be improved.
– DivX and WMV format videos that are larger than 2GB will be playable.
– “Mosquito Noise Reduction” will be added as an AV setting in the
control panel of the DVD/BD player for improved movie playback.(*2)

*1 BD-J format disc is not supported.
*2 BD discs recorded with BDMV format are not supported.

About PS3 and PSP System Software Updates

PS3 and PSP systems were designed to continually evolve with regular
system software updates that deliver new features. There’s no additional
investment required from consumers, who simply update their systems and can
immediately enjoy the benefits of the added functionality. This process
lengthens the lifecycle of PS3 and PSP, and consumers no longer have to
worry about their hardware becoming outdated or missing out on exciting new
capabilities. SCEA will continue to release system software updates on an
ongoing basis. For further details and instructions on how to update the
PS3 and PSP system software, please visit us.playstation.com.

About Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.

Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc. continues to redefine the
entertainment lifestyle with its PlayStation(R) and PS one(R) game console,
the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system, the PSP(R)
(PlayStation(R)Portable) handheld entertainment system, the ground-breaking
PLAYSTATION(R)3 (PS3(TM)) computer entertainment system, and its online and
network services, PLAYSTATION(R)Network and PLAYSTATION(R)Store.

Recognized as the undisputed industry leader, Sony Computer
Entertainment America Inc. markets the PlayStation family of products and
develops, publishes, markets, and distributes software for the PS one game
console, the PlayStation 2 computer entertainment system, the PSP system
and the PS3 system for the North American market. Based in Foster City,
Calif. Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. serves as headquarters for
all North American operations and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony
Computer Entertainment Inc.

“PlayStation,” “PLAYSTATION,” “PSP,” “PS one” are registered trademarks
and “PS3″ and “XMB” are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

SOURCE Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc.