Sony Interactive Entertainment
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Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 wins Best Game at Develop:Star Awards 2026
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 by Sandfall Interactive and Kepler Interactive was awarded Best Game at the Develop:Star Awards 2026, alongside wins for Best Narrative and Best Audio. Other notable winners included Frontier Developments for Best Studio and Sony Interactive Entertainment for Publishing Star.
Redditor fashions a 'game cartridge' system for their Steam library out of cheap SATA SSDs
A Reddit user has created a physical media project using cheap SATA SSDs to function as game cartridges for their Steam library. Each SSD is housed with the game's cover art, and a script automatically navigates Steam to the game's library page or launches it directly when the cartridge is slotted into a dock. This project highlights the appeal of physical media amidst rising memory prices and ongoing discussions about digital ownership.
Threats of a $1,000 PS6 have ex-Sony president just as scared as you are: "How much more ray tracing can you put in…
Former Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Shawn Layden expresses concern over potential $1,000 PlayStation 6 pricing, fearing it will hinder adoption and consumer spending. He questions the necessity of further graphical advancements like ray tracing and higher frame rates, suggesting Sony's recent business decisions may also erode consumer trust by the time the console launches.
PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for July – Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Rise of the Ronin, Firefighting Simulator: Ignite and more
Sony announced the July lineup for the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, featuring titles like Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Rise of the Ronin, and Firefighting Simulator: Ignite for PlayStation 5. Additionally, PS2 classics Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Indigo Prophecy will be available for PlayStation Plus Premium subscribers. The new games will be available starting July 15th in some regions and July 21st globally.
PlayStation 6 May Avoid PS5’s Overheating Problem
A new patent filed by Sony Interactive Entertainment suggests the PlayStation 6 will feature advanced cooling technology to avoid the overheating issues experienced by some PlayStation 5 units. The patent details a heat dissipation device using heat pipes and a heat sink, potentially moving away from the PS5's liquid metal cooling.
PlayStation 5 Accessory Delayed Less Than a Month Before Launch
Sony Interactive Entertainment has indefinitely delayed the release of its upcoming PlayStation 5 accessory, the FlexStrike wireless fight stick, originally slated for August 2026. The company cited unexpected production delays and aims to deliver the best possible experience to players. Preorders will be updated, and customers are advised to contact retailers for further information.
What lessons have developers learned from external development?
External development studios emphasize the critical importance of trust and clear communication with clients, often valuing these over raw talent. Key lessons learned include aligning visions, being adaptable to client workflows, adding value beyond basic tasks, specializing in core competencies, and continuously updating technology and processes. Careful scaling and scope discipline are also vital for long-term success in the external development sector.
Rise of the Ronin is Out Today for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium Subscribers
Team Ninja's Rise of the Ronin is now available for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers on PlayStation 5 in the US and UK. Several other titles, including Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: Rita’s Rewind, are also being added to the Game Catalog throughout July. This staggered release approach is part of Sony's updated strategy for its subscription service offerings.
'God of War Laufey will be available on disc' — Sony Santa Monica may have hinted at the game's release window with physical announcement
Sony Santa Monica has confirmed that God of War Laufey will be released on physical disc, suggesting a launch before January 2028. This announcement comes after Sony Interactive Entertainment revealed plans to discontinue physical game disc production starting in 2028. The confirmation implies the game will likely release before the end of 2027.
PlayStation Store’s Summer Sale arrives on July 15
The PlayStation Store's Summer Sale begins on July 15th, offering discounts of up to 75% on a wide range of PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation VR2 games, add-ons, and more. The sale will feature hundreds of titles, with new deals refreshing on July 27th and concluding on August 12th.
Former PlayStation Store boss says retail price is "set directly by the publisher" as digital draws ire for being more costly than the physical discs Sony is killing
A former head of the PlayStation Store, Gordon Thornton, stated that publishers, not Sony, set the recommended retail prices for games on the platform. This comes amid concerns that digital game prices are higher than physical copies and that Sony's move away from physical discs in 2028 will exacerbate this issue. Thornton's comments contrast with previous legal claims where Sony suggested it set retail prices under a wholesale model.
"The conversation needs to shift to consumer rights": Amid PlayStation's physical shutdown, analyst clarifies viral remarks about nobody missing disc drives
Analyst Daniel Ahmad clarified his remarks comparing the end of physical PlayStation games to the removal of disc drives from PCs, emphasizing that the conversation should shift to consumer rights regarding digital ownership. He highlighted the superior consumer protections on PC platforms like Steam, such as gifting, family sharing, and refund policies, and suggested these should be legally mandated for all digital storefronts.
"Consumers would stop truly owning their video games": Death of PlayStation discs prompts lawmakers and consumer rights groups to push back
Sony Interactive Entertainment's decision to cease production of new PlayStation game discs in 2028 has sparked significant backlash from consumers and consumer rights groups. Organizations in the Netherlands and lawmakers in Mexico are pushing back, arguing that the end of physical media will grant Sony complete control over game pricing and access, effectively turning game purchases into licenses rather than true ownership. This move raises concerns about fair pricing, the second-hand market, and digital ownership rights.
More people are playing 14 year old Black Ops 2 over Black Ops 7 suggests stats
Ports of the 14-year-old Call of Duty: Black Ops 1 and 2 are outselling the latest entry, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, on PlayStation consoles. Despite complaints about pricing and missing DLC, these older titles are topping sales charts and have more active players than the current-generation game across all platforms.
Stealth PlayStation 5 Feature Update Adds a Handy New Widget
Sony Interactive Entertainment has released a new feature update for the PlayStation 5, introducing a 'Weekly Wrap-Up' widget to the Welcome Hub. This widget displays statistics such as most played game, total playtime, and trophies earned. The rollout appears to be staggered, as not all users have reported seeing the new feature yet.
Xbox veteran stresses Sony's all-digital future would compromise game ownership: 'Digital is convenient until someone else decides you’ve had enough'
Xbox founder Laura Fryer has criticized Sony's move towards an all-digital future for PlayStation games, warning that it compromises true game ownership. She points to the discontinuation of physical game discs starting in 2028 and the removal of purchased movies from user libraries as evidence of the risks associated with digital convenience. Fryer suggests Sony is following Rockstar Games' lead with the digital-only Grand Theft Auto 6 to normalize this shift, which she believes ultimately harms consumers by eliminating the used game market and backward compatibility.
EU can't stop Sony going digital-only as God Of War Laufey confirmed for 2027
An EU commissioner stated that the European Union cannot prevent Sony from phasing out physical game discs by 2028, provided consumer rights are protected. Despite industry backlash and petitions, Sony is proceeding with its digital-only strategy, with the PlayStation 6 likely built around this shift. However, Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that God of War Laufey will receive a physical release in 2027, making it one of the last first-party disc-based PlayStation 5 games.
Former PlayStation boss thinks "we've lost a lot of the variety in games," and we can thank the "rising cost" of new titles for that: "We had so many crazy games on PS1"
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden believes the industry has lost game variety due to the rising cost of development, leading to lower risk tolerance. He argues that the high budgets of modern AAA games discourage the creation of unique or 'quirky' titles, citing examples like PaRappa the Rapper and Katamari Damacy, which were more feasible on the PlayStation 1 due to lower development costs.
The PlayStation physical games debacle is taking over everything Sony does — it’s the biggest tech PR disaster since Sonos’ app update, so will Sony learn the lessons that turned Sonos around?
Sony's move towards digital-only game sales is causing significant backlash from PlayStation owners concerned about cost, resale value, and true ownership, drawing parallels to Sonos' past app update disaster. The article suggests Sony could learn from Sonos' approach to rebuilding customer trust through humility and improved execution, but questions whether the company will prioritize this over its business interests, given its large customer base.
God of War Laufey studio hints at 2027 release window following tweet that assures players it "will be available on disc"
Santa Monica Studio has indicated that God of War Laufey will be available on disc before Sony halts physical media production in January 2028, suggesting a release window within 2027. The studio also confirmed a panel at San Diego Comic-Con featuring game director Ariel Lawrence and Cory Barlog. The game is in development exclusively for PlayStation 5 and will not receive a PC port.
