Can the PS3 Play Blu-Ray Movies of Any Region?

Posted on March 24th, 2010. Written by Rico.

Reader Chris sent this in yesterday: “hi guys, ive been wondering if a PS3 from Saudi or in the Middle East can play locally bought blu ray movie titles>”

The Short Answer

Most likely yes; most Blu-Ray discs are region-free anyway.

The Long Answer

Blu-Ray discs (BDs), like DVDs, also feature region codes. When implemented, this “region-locking” prevents BD players sold in one region from playing BDs sold in another. This allows movie studios to set prices for different and prevents, say, an American from buying a BD at a lower price in Russia.

However, many BDs aren’t region-locked. You can visit Region Free Movies to see if your title is region-free. The PS3 is also marketed as a “region-free” player.

What about games? Practically all of them don’t have a region encoded as well, especially if you use the gaming console with an HDTV.

Just in case you’re curious, here are the three BD region codes:

• A (or 1): The Americas, Korea, Japan, and South East Asia (we’re here)
• B (2): Europe (except for Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine), the Middle East, Africa, Australia, New Zealand
• C (3): Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, India, China, Rest of the World

Image: Wikipedia