PlayStation Video is one of those services that has quietly been around for the past 11 years, offering paid video downloads on Sony platforms. But "quietly" may be an overstatement, since the service is no longer as necessary as it once was. But "quietly" may be an exaggeration, as the service is no longer as necessary as it once was.

With the best streaming services dominating every corner of the video market, Sony has decided to discontinue PlayStation Video later this year. If you want to buy something from the store, you'd better do it soon.

The information comes from Vanessa Lee, head of Sony Interactive Entertainment's video business. In a short, straightforward PlayStation Blog post, Lee explains the situation:

"We are seeing tremendous growth in PlayStation fans' use of subscription-based and ad-based entertainment streaming services on our consoles. We have seen a significant growth in the number of PlayStation gamers who are using our subscription-based and ad-based entertainment streaming services. In response to this change in customer behavior, we have decided to discontinue the purchase and rental of movies and television through the PlayStation Store as of August 31."

In short, that's what it means. Viewers prefer subscription video services to buying digital movies and TV a la carte, and the PS4 and PS5 support nearly all streaming services, from Netflix and Hulu to Disney Plus and HBO Max. Even when purchasing video directly, Amazon and Vudu are larger platforms and available on a variety of devices; PS Video is a perfectly good service, but there is little reason to use it.

The good news is that PlayStation Video fans will not lose access to what they have purchased over the years, even if the long-running service ends. As with deprecated games and other software, viewers will be able to download purchased movies and TV from the "Library" section on PS4 and PS5. They can also play content on their mobile devices. (There is indeed a PlayStation Video app. You may want to download and save this as soon as possible as well.)

PlayStation Video may seem like just another movie store now, but it is important to remember that it played an important role when it debuted: back in 2010, the PS3 was just beginning to offer video apps, and DVD and Blu-ray watching was far more common. Not all apps were available on all systems, so companies like Sony and Microsoft devised their own video download storefronts. PlayStation Video was the first way for PS3 users to watch new movies and TV shows without ever leaving home. It was one of the first ways to watch new movies and TV shows on demand without ever leaving home.

In the mid-2010s, there were attempts to offer PlayStation Originals content on PS Video. However, PlayStation Productions went on to produce the film Ratchet & Clank. The studio is currently working on an adaptation of Uncharted, The Last of Us, Twisted Metal, and a Sly Cooper TV series. It is unclear where these films will air, but it is unlikely to be on PlayStation Video.