The Blu-ray Disc Association released its finalized 3D specifications this morning, outlining what to expect out of 3D Blu-ray in 2010. The specification includes full 1080p resolution, backward compatibility for both 3D Blu-ray players and the 3D Blu-ray Discs (meaning that both will play or be able to be played in 2D), and the use of a new MVC codec, an extension of the existing AVC. 3D playback will be "display agnostic," meaning that, according to the Blu-ray Disc Association, the format will be compatible across "any compatible 3D display." What exactly a "compatible 3D display" consists of is still a mystery, but a Blu-ray Disc Association representative said via a phone call that for the most part, you'll need a new TV set to make this technology work.
A few weeks ago, we reported on the PS3's full-fledged leap into 3D gaming by 2011. At the time, we were uncertain as to whether the console would also be a qualified 3D Blu-ray player, but the answer has been provided: yes, it can. The PS3 is included in the specification announcement from the Blu-ray Disc Association, which means the PS3 is perfectly suited to become a 3D platform in every respect.
The capability for PS3 consoles to become full-fledged 3D Blu-ray players, especially in advance of what seems to be the biggest 3D Blu-ray killer app yet seen, could be a huge selling point for PlayStation in 2010. We hope all PS3s will gain this feature via a software update, but the representative said that's Sony's decision. We'll update this post when we know for sure.