Anything Xbox can do with Zune Marketplace video rentals, Playstation 3 wants to do better. Sony (NYSE: SNE) is launching its PlayStationNetwork’s Video Store in France, Germany, Spain and the UK on Thursday, with 800 flicks for rental (from £2.49) or purchase (£6.99).
Studios on board are 20th Century Fox, Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS), Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF), MGM, Paramount Pictures, Sony Pictures, Starz Media, Universal and Warner Bros. (NYSE: TWX) Locally, UK studios Optimum Releasing, ContentFilm International and E1 Entertainment UK will also have films on the UK store.
The PlayStationNetwork store also carries games, demos and trailers. Movies come in SD and HD, though HD will not be available for download-to-own yet. There’s a 14-day window for rentals; purchases can also be synced to a PSP handheld.
Sony’s launch comes just two days after Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) overhauled its Xbox Live’s Video Marketplace to be Zune Marketplace, adding streaming, as well as download, for its movies. PS3 uses progressive downloading.