DivX support coming to the PS3 soon

by Jem Alexander { Nov 13th 2007 at 9:35AM }

A press release sent out by DivX Inc. today details a partnership with Sony which will allow DivX media support on the PlayStation 3. This will be enabled via a firmware update at some point in the (hopefully, near) future. Game developers are also now able to incorporate DivX video into games using tools within the 2.0 SDK.

"We are excited to work with Sony Computer Entertainment to bring DivX to PS3," said Kevin Hell, CEO of DivX, Inc. "Our technology will expand the multimedia functionality of PS3 by enabling users to enjoy access to the broad library of content in the DivX digital media format."

This is, of course, great news and is a feature that we know is being called for from the PlayStation 3 community. However, DivX support on its own is not much more than an aid to video pirates. We're hoping this is the start of some sort of digital video download service, which utilizes the DivX format. Sony has always planned on a service such as this and now would be a great time to implement it. We'll keep you informed.

[Via PS3Forums]

Tags: divx, firmware, Sony

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

derickoleary @ Nov 13th 2007 9:42AM

Wow, not even going to label this one a rumour? Well fingers crossed although I have grown fond of video9's clarity for only the smallest filesize comprimise.

borst @ Nov 13th 2007 9:48AM

why would it be labeled a rumour?

Laurens Holst @ Nov 13th 2007 9:52AM

I don’t understand; isn’t DivX just MPEG4 Advanced Simple Profile? The PS3 already supports the H.264 (MPEG4 AVC) profile which is superior to MPEG4 ASP and seems excellent for a video distribution service; so why would you want DivX to be used? Their proprietary file format is surely not what we want... I’d rather have the PS3 support the AVI, OGM and MKV file formats, and MPEG4 ASP and Ogg vorbis audio. Oh, and softsubs. That would cover my needs (watching anime from my PC on my PS3 :p).

However, this agreement just seems to be saying that they’re licensing DivX’s code, and that’s great, saves them the trouble of having to write it themselves or using some open source library like FFDShow which doesn’t come with support from a company like DivX.

But for a video distribution system, using DivX seems inferior to H.264, and I certainly hope they’re not going to use that for a video distribution service (which I, by the way, would love to see :)).

Cookie Monster @ Nov 13th 2007 9:53AM

Woohoo!!! Score!

Video Pirates 1 : 0 Corporations

Ruben @ Nov 13th 2007 9:53AM

Rumor? It was released by DivX.inc how much more confirmation could it possibly need?

Atlas83 @ Nov 13th 2007 10:02AM

yay my prayers have been answered.. well not prayers to god but to the black shiny box under my TV. Finally it makes sense to have Eye Connect on my Mac as soon as this feature is released i will buy the full version. Its not just pirated stuff that comes in DivX i have plenty of legit stuff in that format..

Christian @ Nov 13th 2007 10:07AM

Um, you really do not want a video download service using DivX. DivX is essentially nothing but a branded version of MPEG4Part2 in an AVI container. H264/MPEG4 Part 10 provides much better image quality at higher compression rates. So while DivX support is nice for watching all the DivX clips available out there on things like Bittorrent (there is even a couple of them being legally distributed :) it is not a good choice for any future video rental/purchase system.

MattyD @ Nov 13th 2007 10:03AM

I love how they automatically jump at "video pirates" when it comes to DivX...

It is popular format plain and simple...regardless of legality status...

organic_shadow @ Nov 13th 2007 10:07AM

I don't know much about video codecs and compression and all that, but what you're saying #3 is that h.264 get's better quality and/or filesize than DivX? I wonder why developers would want to use it over h.264 then if it's inferior.

I can see the appeal to the average user though, as there is a lot of DivX-format content on the net, as well as a lot of *ahem* 'backup' copies of 'our' movies in DivX so instantly giving all the people with DivX libraries access to them on their PS3, with 1080p upscaling, seems pretty rad to me.

Have they announced which version of DivX it'll be though? Hopefully it's not like flash where we're a version or two behind indefinitely...

Jtenma @ Nov 13th 2007 10:08AM

I dont get it, whats so great about Divx support? Forgive me for being such an uninformed douche, but can someone explain some advantages?

Stef Geiger @ Nov 13th 2007 10:16AM

divx support will allow people to pretty much just copy 90% of torrented videos (shows and movies) to the PS3's HDD and play them. Currently, since 90% of torrents are divx AVIs, they need to be transcoded to something like MP4 before they can be played on the PS3, which is a huge pain, even if you have a smoking fast machine. I'll bet that the only reason why Sony actually caved on this front is that the 360 is also supposed to get divx support, which would otherwise make it really attractive to torrenters - I mean, they've yet to implement divx on the PSP....

Lee @ Nov 13th 2007 10:22AM

You can use TVersity to encode on the fly and view Divx files immediately on your PS3. However, with native support, the process will be even simpler.

Blair Thiessen @ Nov 13th 2007 10:30AM

Thank you! DivX support is great news! Naruto and Bleach finally won't be a hassle to watch on my HDTV

Ian @ Nov 13th 2007 10:30AM

BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG, BIG KISSES to SONY!

After a weekend of tearing up the streets of Eastern Europe and Middle Eastern towns on COD4 I thought that things couldn't really improve on my beloved PS3. You've gone and proved me wrong, in a nice way!!!

I am a happy bunny!

farfisa @ Nov 13th 2007 10:45AM

Oh, come on naysayers--ANY new codec support is always welcome!

XDragon @ Nov 13th 2007 10:47AM

Sony seems to be listening to the people to know which features are in demand. Lets hope this is just the start of Sony's attempts to make their customers happy.

derickoleary @ Nov 13th 2007 10:52AM

Indeed welcome! but Im still going to be re-encoding all my movies into native resolution mpeg4. Clarity is insanely better, a load less blocking.

@those who asked why it would be labelled a rumour
I guess just because everyone is saying everything will be getting divx support, like that spokesman for the 360 the other day outright saying "yes" when asked if the 360 will get a divx update shortly.

In hindsight it would seem that there are no if ands or buts about this one though.

What I cant understand is why divx support has taken soo long to get into the consoles. I mean Ive had a standalone dvd player I bought for $50 in Kmart that has support for it, so the licensing cant cost THAT much... can it?

gamingeek @ Nov 13th 2007 11:08AM

This just illustrates how Sony REALLY IS LISTENING to it's customers. As far as I'm concerened if we could get an ingame message feature, a better web browser, and more software compatibility we'd have a pretty awesome OS to rival the FPSbox.

AK @ Nov 13th 2007 11:14AM

maybe my mile high pile of fansubbed anime will go down now!!!! stupidest thing about fansubs is watching them on the computer, it'll be nice to just lie in bed and watch in my room where my dad wont constantly go "aawww karate, honda" in a stupid asian accent.

AK @ Nov 13th 2007 11:15AM

@gaming geek: FPSbox... oh, that made me feel so clean all of a sudden. xD nice one.

Tim Parsons @ Nov 13th 2007 11:37AM

Sweet,. this would render my DIvX DVD player useless which would be awesome cause I could get rid of it.

But I wonder what levels of DivX it would support? Considering DivX itself supports HD right up to and uncluding 1080P and I already have the full Software and on my PC so hopefully the PS3 version of it will be able to play any DivX resolution,.

@11 Hell yeha that's the Reason i want it so bad, not so much for Movies but like old TV shows,. I have so many old TV shows especailly Cartoons I loved as a kid for my kids and this would be awesome,. plsu i download alot of current TV shows to,. fucki' most of em i watch on Tv like Smallville or StarGate:atlantis only 480i on the channels i get em on,. now I could just wait and download a HD version to watch,.

Crosses fingers for this to be REAL soon

ClarkyCat @ Nov 13th 2007 11:37AM

Although swearing is the first resort of the ignorant, I have to say this is fucking great news.

Popfrogs @ Nov 13th 2007 11:32AM

If TVersity didn't suck and crash all the time I might consider it but I'll take native support over 3rd party transcoding hacks any day.

DivX is cool, and Microsoft is rumored to put this in their Fall update (which by the time it's released will probably be Winter). Xvid support would be nice as well.

Oh and to #3, AVI isn't a codec, it's a wrapper. Anything compressed in one of 2 dozen ways can be inside an AVI. That's why there's no simple solution to "avi support".

FrankTheCrank @ Nov 13th 2007 11:42AM

Why is it that downloading a missed episode of Office, House or Heroes is considered piracy?

These shows were broadcast publicly for public consumption. How is it that you download it after it aired, is considered piracy.

I understand about DVD rips and HBO or Showtime shows...but seriously, the content providers have got to chill the F out!

Chrispy @ Nov 13th 2007 11:37AM

Is this exclusive to PS3? Because like derickoleary said, it was said recently that the Xbox360 would use DivX.
It's not that big a thing either way but if it is exclusive to sony a goals a goal right?

Oscar Olim @ Nov 13th 2007 12:06PM

What sony does to see if it can sell a few more ps3.
Desperate times demand desperate measures.

Tim Parsons @ Nov 13th 2007 12:08PM

@24 who gives a shit if it's exclusive or Not it's Great! well i guess it would suck to be a 360 only owner if it is exclusive but aside from that. DivX support isn't Great??,. wow your a moron,. of course it is,. unless you already have and HD DivX DVD player

Bryant @ Nov 13th 2007 12:12PM

"However, DivX support on its own is not much more than an aid to video pirates."

Wow AOL must really hate Sony.

organic_shadow @ Nov 13th 2007 12:15PM

Just because PS3 doesn't currently support video extensions other than .mpg(.mpeg as well?) and .mp4 doesn't mean that DivX files would need to be transcoded, because we don't even know if Sony is going to add .avi support with the update yet. They could allow .avi but only if it's DivX, would be simple.

I agree that smaller files would be better for a video distro service, but I think this is mainly more of a feature they're adding for users that have large DivX file collections, rather than for whatever service Sony may introduce in the future.

LOL @26: You really think Sony is trying to sell PS3's with DivX support? They haven't even announced this yet, DivX did. This is just Sony trying to justify the purchase a little more for those that already have PS3's and have been asking for DivX support, not something they're luring new customers in with.

DaveTO @ Nov 13th 2007 12:31PM

I'm really happy about this.

Prophestus @ Nov 13th 2007 12:46PM

Nice all my porn will be on my consoles now :)

And to the "FPSBox" guys above, the 360 is getting DivX support with its fall update as well.

Kspraydad @ Nov 13th 2007 12:53PM

Prophestus...please provide linky to either MS or DivX Inc. announcing this.

naruto007 @ Nov 13th 2007 12:56PM

hell yeah now i can watch anime on the ps3 better than FW2.0

why not the LS2/LS7? @ Nov 13th 2007 1:01PM

Okay, now please add support for H.264 and AC-3 in a .mkv format container.

DivX is the past.

Divx User @ Nov 15th 2007 12:56PM

Fantastic!
My brother is crying today because he just bought an Xbox 360. He is going to return it for a PS3. Kmart has a 20% off coupon floating around somewhere.

I hope that the PS3 can upscale my DIVX to show at 1080P. I get tired of having to change my resolution to 480P when I'm view a divx file that was made at a smaller resolution. (When I use TVersity for DIVX files.) Hopefully this will work better.

Now if only they would at support to the microsoft DVR format that they use when creating TV shows on my media center PC. I love the new HP tv's that use the media center from my PC. I wish my 52 inch XBR4 could do that.

Hurry up and give us DIVX!!! Don't make us wait a month after just announcing it today!

Just me.. @ Nov 13th 2007 2:29PM

Azureus also/allready works on the PS3

MCX @ Nov 13th 2007 2:35PM

Actually provides a high quality compression for video. You can also encode HD video at resolutions up to 1080p, at a fraction of the file size. Compress digital video 5 to 10 times more than MPEG-2/DVD format and hundreds of times over raw digital video * Encode high-definition (HD) video at resolutions up to 1080p

--I still want them to upgrade there flash player to 9 but this is way better.