Hulu has joined the 21st century by adding 4K content to the streaming service. Unfortunately, not only are the initial offerings extremely limited, most people won't have the hardware required to watch 4K content on Hulu. Which makes the whole thing rather pointless.

Both Netflix and Amazon Prime Video have been offering 4K content for some time. This means that anyone who has a device capable of showing 4K content and support for the Netflix or Amazon Prime Video apps can take advantage of the UHD offerings.

The good news is that, according to Variety, Hulu has now joined the party. The bad news is that a) you probably don't have the hardware needed to stream 4K content on Hulu, and b) you probably won't want to watch what Hulu is offering anyway.

Jumping Through Hulu Hoops for James Bond

In terms of hardware, 4K Hulu content is only available through a PlayStation 4 Pro or an Xbox One S. These, for the uninitiated, are the new upgraded versions of the PS4 and Xbox One games consoles. And, unlike their standard counterparts, they output video in anything up to and including 4K.

If you do own a PlayStation 4 Pro or Xbox One S then it's all good. Unfortunately, at the time of writing Hulu is only offering 20 James Bond movies plus its original programming in 4K. So unless 11.22.63 and GoldenEye do it for you, you're out of luck.

Another limitation we haven't yet mentioned is the need for an internet connection of 13 megabits-per-second (as an absolute minimum). So if your average internet speed is below that, don't even bother trying to watch 4K content on Hulu.

Hulu Is Playing Catch-Up

Hulu clearly has some catching up to do here. Its rivals -- namely Netflix and Amazon prime Video -- are not only offering a lot more 4K content, they're supporting more hardware. So unless Hulu gets its act together, anyone who values 4K content over everything else is better off elsewhere.

Do you regularly watch Hulu? Do you pay for the privilege? Would you be more likely to pay for 4K content? What's your favorite source for 4K content? Will you be binge-watching all of the James Bond films in 4K? Please let us know in the comments below!

Image Credit: Christoph Scholz via Flickr