May 22^nd, 2006 (3:51pm) - The success of The Da Vinci Code, the Columbia Pictures movie based on Dan Brown’s best-selling novel, could be a key weapon for Sony when it comes to launching the PlayStation 3 this November.

That’s according to analysts at Bloomberg, who reported this week that the firm - which owns Columbia Pictures - may be planning to launch the movie on Blu-Ray almost simultaneously with the arrival of the PS3.

The Da Vinci Code has just recorded the second largest worldwide opening weekend ever, with only Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith clocking up a better box office performance. Over USD 77 million was taken in the United States alone, despite the critical drubbing received by the film.

Bloomberg’s report implies that Sony may choose to put heavy marketing behind the high-definition Blu-Ray version of the movie when it is released to retail later this year, using it as a vehicle to educate consumers about the Blu-Ray product.

Doing so alongside the launch of PlayStation 3, which is expected to be the cheapest Blu-Ray player on the market when it arrives in mid-November, could help to drive demand for the machine and to alleviate the danger of consumers steering clear of the system due to its high price tag.