Sony Announces PlayStation TV – Apple TV’s Direct Competitor

At yesterday’s E3 keynote event, Sony revealed the PlayStation TV; it’s a rebrand of the PS Vita TV showcased last fall. The device can fit in your hand and is priced at $99, which makes it a direct Apple TV competitor.

And just like Apple TV, it comes with support for several streaming services such as Netflix and Hulu, as well as Sony’s content. It’ll, however, have a greater focus on gaming, with 1000 titles expected at launch.

Among the titles will be PSP, PS Vita and PS One classics, as well as those on the PlayStation Now streaming service. PlayStation Now will enter beta stage in July, and will provide access to PS3 games.

In addition to the gaming options, the PlayStation TV will be a PlayStation 4 extender; it will allow PS4 gamers to play on a TV set other than the one the console is connected to.

The PlayStation TV is expected to arrive in Canada and the US with a price tag of $99. According to Sony, it will also be bundled with 8 GB memory card, HDMI cable, DualShock 3 controller, and the LEGO Movie game, for $139.