Netflix has announced that its movie and TV streaming service is landing on Sony’s new PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) today, making it the first Sony handheld entertainment system to feature the service.
The PS Vita is the successor to the PlayStation Portable, and was released in Japan and other parts of Asia back in December, followed by Europe, and the Americas earlier today.
Netflix programming can be streamed on the 5-inch multi-touch display via WiFi, with subscribers also able to start watching a show on one device (e.g. through a PlayStation 3) and continue watching on the PS Vita from the point they stopped watching at.
“We are very excited that Netflix is available on PS Vita at launch,” said Greg Peters, vice president of product development at Netflix. “Many Netflix members love their PlayStation entertainment consoles and handhelds. We’re glad to offer PS Vita users the ability to enjoy Netflix wherever and whenever they want.”
Netflix is available to subscribers across a range of devices, including Apple’s TV set-top box, Boxee, Blu-ray disc players, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and a host of other devices. PS Vita owners can download and install the Netflix application for free from the PlayStation Store, however it’s only available to PS Vita users in Canada, the United States and across Latin America at the moment.
“PS Vita is the ultimate portable entertainment device,” added Phil Rosenberg, senior vice president of business development at Sony Computer Entertainment America. “Netflix perfectly complements the most extensive launch line up of games in PlayStation’s history. Now in addition to a steady stream of amazing games titles, PS Vita gamers will also have a great catalogue of TV shows and movies at their fingertips.”
Netflix has more than 23 million streaming members across North and South America, and the UK and Ireland, where it launched at the start of the year. It’s not clear as of yet when European subscribers will be able to access Netflix through their PS Vita device.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.