PS4 can finally play pirated media thanks to its new media player

When the PlayStation 4 first released, Sony generated a massive amount of hype for the console — due to the machine being well-made and affordable, and thanks to Microsoft’s bungling of the Xbox One reveal. If the PS4 had a chink in its armor, though, it was that you couldn’t play external media on the console. Whereas you could load a USB drive with your favorite music, videos, and photos and play or view them on your PS3, your PS4 wouldn’t even recognize the drive. Now, nearly two years after the PS4’s release, Sony has graced the console with the ability to play external media.This, of course, means the PS4 can also play pirated media.

The Media Player is very easy to use — simply download it from the PlayStation Store (there will be an icon on your PS4’s home screen so you don’t have to search through the Store catalog), let it install, then load it up. If you have any external media connected to the PS4 — either through a USB drive, external hard drive, or media stream — it’ll appear in the list of playable media, and you can select what you want to watch. Easy peasy.

There’s even more good news: the PS4 media player is compatible with a larger variety of file formats than the PS3’s player. Along with the standard MP4, AVI, and MPEG-2 TS video formats, the PS4 will be able to read MKV files — something the PS3’s player wouldn’t do, and would routinely cause you to go searching for an MP4 after you already spent time downloading an MKV without noticing the accursed file format. You can also view JPEG, BMP, and PNG images, as well as play MP3 and AAC audio files.

Many felt that Sony did not initially include external media support in the PS4 due to piracy concerns. Being able to play external media wouldn’t mean that the PS4 is actually pirating content, but it does mean that the console is providing an easy way to play pirated content. The PS4 was always able to play media, but you generally had to purchase and view it through some sort of service, like Netflix and Amazon Instant Video, or you had to use a third party’s curated content, like through Spotify. Now, you can download whatever you want, and play it on your PS4 without hassle.

For years, PS4 owners who used their PS3 as their central media hub needed both consoles sitting under their television: the PS4 to play new games, and the PS3 to play media. Now, finally — and with much respect — the PS3 can be retired to the bottom of your closet, and you can free some precious shelf space under your television.

Written By: Haris Rashid