Sony has unveiled plans to make upcoming PS3 title Uncharted 2: Among Thieves playable on US cinema screens equipped with its digital-projection technology, and hopes it can build the experiment “into a standard element in the movie-going experience”.
Uncharted 2 will be playable on four San Francisco, California, Illinois and Washington-based movie screens on October 5 and 6, reports Reuters. The cinemas will feature PS3s hooked up to Sony's 4K digital cinema technology, which is currently available in around 500 theatres across the States.
A May report from market research firm the NPD Group said that American game players now outnumber the country’s cinema-goers, and Sony believes that future game-theatre promotions of this nature could lead to new revenue streams for both industries.
"This is the first time we're doing it in a theatre. We think it's a start of something for us, and hope we can build this into a standard element in the movie-going experience," said Mike Fidler, senior vice president of Sony Electronics' Digital Cinema Solutions and Services Group.
"Our goal in converting theatres to digital is to go beyond the traditional movie-going experience and focus on helping exhibitors find ways to fill seats. Gaming will be an important part of that equation."
Uncharted 2 is due for release in mid-October. Developed by Naughty Dog, the PS3 exclusive title has been highly praised by critics, garnering a Metacritic rating of 97 based on 22 reviews.