Google Play launches 4K Ultra HD content with 125 movies in U.S., Canada

By Kris Wouk December 6, 2016

brett ratner rotten tomatoes criticism batman v superman film warner bros — Warner Bros.

While there are plenty of places to buy digital movies and TV episodes, Google Play has gone from being available solely on Android devices to becoming a major source of content across multiple platforms in 117 countries worldwide. It could be about to get even more popular, as Google announced on Tuesday that 4K Ultra HD content is finally available via Google Play.

The 4K rollout is kicking off with 125 movies available in the U.S. and Canada. They include Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, 10 Cloverfield Lane, Lucy, Everest, The Amazing Spider-Man, The Lego Movie, Mission: Impossible — Rogue Nation, and The Fifth Element.

Google says the movies are using the VP9 codec — the same codec used by YouTube. This means that HDR (high dynamic range) is possible. The company hasn’t mentioned that any of the current titles are available in HDR, despite the fact that the company’s recently released Chromecast Ultra supports HDR playback.

In addition to the Chromecast family of devices, a number of other devices are supported, including Sony Bravia Android TVs, the Xiaomi Mi Box 3, and 2016 Samsung Smart TVs. Viewers can purchase movies on their Android device or on the web, and stream to any of the compatible options, the list of which will likely continue to expand in the future.

While 4K content from Google Play can be viewed on other devices, the company would probably prefer you purchase its hardware, which is why it is offering your first 4K purchase for free when you buy a Chromecast Ultra. The options are limited to a list that includes films like Ghostbusters and Captain Phillips, but this isn’t a bad deal if you were already planning on picking up the latest version of the Chromecast.

For more information, see Movies & TV section of the the Google Play website.

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Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…

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