Sony PS3 Upgradable to 3D Blu-ray and Gaming

The Sony PlayStation 3 is being set up for another huge transformation, one that will further its reputation as the "buy it once, use it forever" Blu-ray player. As the first product to offer HDMI 1.3, Sony is now pouring it on to be the only existing Blu-ray console that will be able to be upgraded to 3D. The PS3 is actually listed in the official 3D Blu-ray spec according to an earlier press release by the Blu-ray Disc Association:

The Blu-ray 3D specification is also designed to allow PS3 game consoles to play back Blu-ray 3D content in 3D. Additionally, the specification supports playback of 2D discs in forthcoming 3D players and can enable 2D playback of Blu-ray 3D discs on the large installed base of Blu-ray Disc players currently in homes around the world.

What consumers have been wondering, however, is how, and more importantly - how soon - will 3D come to those in the home theater market?

The Blu-ray 3D specification calls for encoding 3D video using the Multiview Video Coding (MVC) codec, an extension to the ITU-T H.264 Advanced Video Coding (AVC) codec currently supported by all Blu-ray Disc players. MPEG4-MVC compresses both left and right eye views with a typical 50% overhead compared to equivalent 2D content, and can provide full 1080p resolution backward compatibility with current 2D Blu-ray Disc players. The specification also incorporates enhanced graphic features for 3D. These features provide a new experience for users, enabling navigation using 3D graphic menus and displaying 3D subtitles positioned in 3D video.

What this means is that the specification will be 1080p, backwards compatible, and the new 3D Blu-ray discs will able to be played in 2D. In addition, 3D playback will be compatible across "any compatible 3D display." While we're seeing displays hit the market left and right, one thing is for certain: you'll need a new "3D-ready" TV set to make this technology work.

Pocket Lint did an interview with SCEA's Director of Hardware Marketing, John Koller, who delivered a few tidbits that filled in the gaps. In particular, the target date for 3D Blu-ray is summer 2010, coinciding with the release of the new 3D Bravia televisions (go figure). Meanwhile, a firmware update will be released within several months that will to turn all existing Sony PS3s into 3D-capable playback devices. Another firmware update will also allow players to play 3D games on compatible TVs. And I thought I got motion sickness on my projector screen as-is!

We're hoping that "compatible" TVs aren't the limiting factor here and that the PS3 is fully upgradable with all TVs designated as 3D. To limit this technology to their Bravia line would be a shame, and lower the "amazement" factor of the firmware update. It would, however, explain all other manufacturers' claims that 3D functionality requires HDMI 1.4, thus making their existing players non-upgradable. Time will fill in the gaps.