Yesterday, Kotaku received an internal GameStop memo that pointed to a new model of Sony’s PlayStation 3. The memo pointed to the new PS3 K chassis no longer having support for HD content over component, forcing new purchasers to spring for an additional HDMI cable to play HD games.
Sony later confirmed to Ars Technica that HD gaming is still available over component cable, but Blu-ray HD movie output is indeed going HDMI-only. The reason: the Advanced Access Content System (AACS) standard of DRM for high-definition video requires the video to come over HDMI or DVI, both of which support High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection (HDCP). Starting in 2014, new Blu-ray players will be dropping component ports altogether to be compliant with AACS.
"The new CECH-3000 series PS3 requires HDMI only for BD movie output in HD, in compliance with AACS standards," Sony said in a statement. "PS3 continues to support component output for HD gaming and streaming content."
This doesn’t affect most readers of IndustryGamers if I had to guess, but future PS3 purchasers should be ready to get their HDMI cables online. Those things are expensive in stores.
