The new Sony Pictures Core app, formerly Bravia Core, for PlayStation consoles does not deliver Sony's "UHD BD equivalent quality" with up to 80 Mbps video bitrate.

When Sony launched its Bravia Core movie app on select high-end TVs in 2021, the headlining feature was "near lossless UHD BD equivalent quality with streaming up to 80 Mbps", or 'Pure Stream' as the company likes to call it.

Bravia Core is now being rebranded as Sony Pictures Core.

 The Sony Pictures Core app is now available on PS4 and PS5

The app launched on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles last week and at the time a number of major media outlets claimed that the PlayStation app also delivers 'Pure Stream' up to 80 Mbps video bitrate, despite Sony and PlayStation making no such announcement.


App does not support Pure Stream
Now that the Sony Pictures Core app can be downloaded on PlayStation consoles, it is clear that Pure Stream is not supported.

The app's Pure Stream menu setting option is missing on PlayStation consoles and there is no Pure Stream logo on movie pages either. A visual inspection also confirms that the video quality is noticeably softer than on Sony TVs.


 The Pure Stream logo only shows up in the Bravia Core app on Sony TVs – not on PlayStation consoles

FlatpanelsHD contacted PlayStation PR to get more information on the company's plans but has not heard back.

The official Sony Pictures Core FAQ does not make any mention of intentions to add Pure Stream support on PlayStation 5.

The Sony Pictures Core app still delivers movies in up to 4K, Dolby Vision, Dolby Atmos and IMAX Enhanced, just not at the same high video bitrate as on Sony TVs. Note that these premium video formats are supported on PlayStation 5 but not on PlayStation 4 as the console lacks both an HEVC video decoder and HDMI 4K output.

 Also see: Full list: 4K HDR & Atmos movies on Apple TV (iTunes)

For now, the Bravia Core app on Sony TVs remains the only way to experience Sony's Pure Stream. The app will change name to Sony Pictures Core on Sony TVs in "early 2024", Sony Europe confirmed to FlatpanelsHD. We do not know if any other changes will be made.

Sony Pictures Core availability
Andorra
Australia
Austria
Belgium
Canada
Denmark
Finland
France
Germany
Gibraltar
Ireland
Italy
Japan
Luxembourg
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
Portugal
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom
USA
 FlatpanelsHD