ICYMI: Sony finally adds MKV support to PS4 through new Media Player

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 21 Jun 2015 5:47 User comments (10)

Earlier this week, during E3, Sony made a great announcement for fans, but one that may slipped under the radar due to all the big games announcements.

Sony has added a new Media Player app to the PlayStation 4, one that allows you to play home media (or those videos you downloaded online) directly through a USB stick or home server.

Most importantly, the Media Player finally brings MKV support, a feature I have personally been asking Sony for since the launch of the PlayStation 3.

Here is the full codec list supported:

Video
MKV
Visual: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2
Audio: MP3, AAC LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital)

AVI
Visual: MPEG4 ASP, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2
Audio: MP3, AAC LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital)

MP4
Visual: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2
Audio: AAC LC, AC-3 (Dolby Digital)

MPEG-2 TS
Visual: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC High Profile Level4.2, MPEG2 Visual
Audio: MP2 (MPEG2 Audio Layer 2), AAC LC, AC-3(Dolby Digital)
AVCHD: (.m2ts, .mts)

Photo
JPEG (based on DCF 2.0/Exif 2.21)
BMP
PNG

Music
MP3
AAC (M4A)

Sony confirmed the Media Player was one of the most requested features for the console, and the app is available now.

Tags: Media Player Sony PlayStation 4

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10 user comments

121.6.2015 23:24

DK1979

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Newbie

Still lacks DTS support though...

222.6.2015 10:27

aw2600

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Junior Member

They need to add support for additional formats to the PS3 as well. There is no technical reason why the PS3 can't play more formats.

323.6.2015 09:23

bhetrick

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AfterDawn Addict

Originally posted by aw2600:
They need to add support for additional formats to the PS3 as well. There is no technical reason why the PS3 can't play more formats.

Technical reason, none.
Financial reason, yes.

They (all console manufacturers) want you to buy this gen and not stay content with last gen.

423.6.2015 11:55

Interestx

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Senior Member

What happened to the 4k stuff?
H265 seems the future there but it's not on the list.

523.6.2015 12:55

Bozobub

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Senior Member

Originally posted by Interestx:
What happened to the 4k stuff?
H265 seems the future there but it's not on the list.

Device coding/decoding of content has NEVER been on the cutting edge; think of DVD/Blu-Ray players, and their sad lack of support for formats, even when - in the case of many Blu-Ray players - the device's firmware is upgradeable, like the PS3 and PS4.

There's more than one reason for this but a big - if not the biggest - part is because newer formats at any given time are often (right or wrong) associated with piracy of content, or at the very least "format-shifting", which the studios absolutely hate to see made possible. And remember, Sony also *produces content*; they don't just provide the device!

Additionally, sometimes formats are just plain too new, and both 4K resolutions and h.265 fit that description to a "T". Neither has the market penetration to bother with yet.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 23 Jun 2015 @ 5:16

623.6.2015 16:25

mightyzog

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Junior Member

Tried to use the new media player to play a couple of movies and shows that i have in a usb stick. Failed to see any media on the stick. It works flawlessly on my blu ray players usb.... But not on PS4?? And my blu ray is a Sony. Just keeps saying that there is no supported formats on stick?? Huh?? Anyone have any ideas?? Would love to get rid of the blu ray player and just use PS4 if I could.

The media is a mix of MKV, AVI, and MP4.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 23 Jun 2015 @ 4:26

723.6.2015 17:29

Bozobub

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Senior Member

Originally posted by mightyzog:
Tried to use the new media player to play a couple of movies and shows that i have in a usb stick. Failed to see any media on the stick. It works flawlessly on my blu ray players usb.... But not on PS4?? And my blu ray is a Sony. Just keeps saying that there is no supported formats on stick?? Huh?? Anyone have any ideas?? Would love to get rid of the blu ray player and just use PS4 if I could.

The media is a mix of MKV, AVI, and MP4.

You sure you have the update already?

824.6.2015 01:27

DarthMopar

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Member

Pretty sure the update hasn't came out yet..

924.6.2015 03:42

mightyzog

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Junior Member

I'm assuming I have the new one.... Just downloaded it on Sunday.

1024.6.2015 16:21

Oner

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Moderator

Originally posted by DarthMopar:
Pretty sure the update hasn't came out yet..

The update has been available since E3 last week (Monday) ~ http://blog.us.playstation.com/2015/06/...-coming-to-ps4/

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 24 Jun 2015 @ 4:21

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ICYMI: Sony finally adds MKV support to PS4 through new Media Player

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