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Sony has decided against some rather obvious product synergy by negating to make its new PlayStation Vue cloud television streaming service available on its quirky set top box actually called PlayStation TV.
The PlayStation TV box allows users to stream PSP, PSOne and some current PS Vita games via the PS Now service and tune into music and television shows through Sony’s entertainment portals.
Meanwhile, the PlayStation Vue service, which enjoyed a partial roll out in the US on Wednesday, offers month-to-month access to some of the most popular TV channels without the need for a cable or satellite subscription.
However, Sony is limiting the PlayStation Vue to PS3 and PS4, meaning the entry point for the cable-cutting service will be much higher than the PSTV box’s affordable $100 price point, although the firm has promised an iPad app in the near future.
Although Sony hadn’t mentioned a potential PlayStation TV app in the pre-release build up, many observers assumed it to be a no-brainer.
Read more: Everything you need to know about PlayStation TV
The news was pointed out by CNET’s senior editor Scott Stein and reported by colleague David Katzmaier on Wednesday as PlayStation Vue arrived in Chicago, New York and Philadelphia.
“You read that right: PlayStation Vue, Sony's new TV service, won't work on PlayStation TV,” remarked the latter on Twitter (via The Verge).
The decision seems to be a missed opportunity for Sony as is seeks to push the merits of the PS TV box and its fledgling Vue service.
A marriage would seemingly have made sense for both platforms and, if nothing else, from a product naming perspective.
Now the company will be dealing with confused customers wondering why they can’t access the PlayStation-branded television service from a product called PlayStation TV. Go figure.