Sony
Sony business and news from across the web.
Latest coverage
Sony starts promoting physical media again - but not for PlayStation
Sony is facing backlash for its decision to discontinue physical game releases on PlayStation 5 after 2027, while simultaneously promoting vinyl records as a physical media format. This has led to accusations of hypocrisy from fans, who question the company's stance on physical media given the larger market size of video games compared to vinyl.
Spider-Man: Brand New Day first reactions say it's like "a mini Avengers film" and Sadie Sink's…
First reactions to Spider-Man: Brand New Day are overwhelmingly positive, with many calling it Tom Holland's best outing as the web-slinger and comparing it to an "Avengers film." Critics praised the emotional weight, sharp writing, and action, with Sadie Sink's performance also receiving significant acclaim.
Xbox explains outage preventing players from accessing games, CTO says it will "do better"
Xbox's CTO Scott Van Vliet explained that a failure in a shared internal licensing service caused a widespread outage, preventing players from signing in and accessing their games. The issue also impacted publishing and store partners. Xbox is conducting a review to prevent similar failures and improve recovery times, with service restoration occurring unevenly across regions.
The PS6 will have bigger problems than not having physical games
The success of the PlayStation 6 is unlikely to be determined by its lack of physical game support, but rather by its price, launch titles, and hardware innovation. While the move to an all-digital future is controversial, consumer convenience and the prevalence of digital sales suggest it may not be the primary factor in the console's potential failure. More significant challenges include a presumed high price point, the difficulty of securing compelling exclusive titles, and the need for unique hardware features beyond what the PlayStation 5 offers.
Sony May Have the Data on Its Side, but It’s Still Losing the Digital-Only Argument
Sony's decision to move to digital-only games by 2028 has faced significant backlash, with consumers concerned about game preservation and the loss of physical media. Despite this, the company has remained largely silent, possibly anticipating the reaction and relying on declining physical sales data. The article questions the long-term viability of an all-digital future, citing potential issues with online infrastructure and the importance of physical media for certain markets and consumer preferences.
Scrapped God of War Ending Revealed in Interview
Former God of War director David Jaffe revealed a scrapped ending for God of War 3 where Kratos would have killed Zeus early on, leading to a war between different mythologies. This ending would have explored Kratos's journey through Norse and Egyptian pantheons before ultimately realizing that belief sustains gods. The original plan also included epilogues showing the birth of Christ and the cyclical nature of faith.
Sony's latest PR masterstroke is promoting vinyl records in the same breath it kills PlayStation discs: "If you can do physical for music, you can do it for games"
Sony's promotion of vinyl records has drawn criticism from PlayStation fans following the company's decision to end support for physical game discs in January 2028. Critics argue that if physical media is viable for music, it should be for games, questioning the profit-driven shift to digital-only sales and its impact on game preservation.
I've finally found an upscaler for my PS2 that kicks jitters to the curb, and it's affordable compared to its…
This article discusses the challenges of upscaling interlaced graphics from the PlayStation 2 era on modern displays, highlighting the jittery visuals that result. It introduces the GBS-C (GBS Control) as an affordable open-source HDMI converter that utilizes motion-adaptive deinterlacing to significantly reduce this jitter, offering a superior experience compared to standard deinterlacing techniques.
Rockstar Games and GTA co-founder chimes in on the raging physical games debate: "If people want that, companies should provide it"
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser and writer Lazlow Jones have weighed in on the debate surrounding physical versus digital game releases. Houser stated that if consumers want physical copies, companies should provide them, while Jones expressed appreciation for the convenience of digital downloads on devices like the Steam Deck. Both acknowledged the value of physical media, drawing parallels to their current work in comic books.
Xbox Network Is Down Right Now, Microsoft Confirms
The Xbox Network is currently experiencing widespread outages affecting account sign-ins, store access, and gaming services. Microsoft has confirmed the issues and is working on a fix, though no estimated time for resolution has been provided. This outage follows a recent disruption on the PlayStation Network and raises concerns about the reliability of digital-only game access.
Critics of Sony's Decision to Kill Physical Discs Call on Gamers to Boycott PlayStation for a Week Next Month, but Will Anyone Listen?
Critics of Sony's decision to phase out physical discs from PlayStation consoles by 2028 are calling for a week-long boycott of the platform in August. The protest aims to pressure Sony into reconsidering its move away from physical media.
PlayStation Plus August 2026 Free Game Revealed Early
Sony has revealed that Big Walk, the next game from the creator of Untitled Goose Game, will be a free monthly title for PlayStation Plus subscribers in August 2026. The cooperative multiplayer adventure will be available on PlayStation 5 starting August 4, 2026, and is a day-one release for the service.
PlayStation fans plan week-long blackout over Sony’s disc decision, but will you actually log off?
A week-long PlayStation blackout is being organized by the physical media preservation group Does It Play? to protest Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs by January 2028. The campaign aims to reduce console usage and purchases on Sony platforms to demonstrate player dissatisfaction, though its effectiveness is questioned given the dominance of digital sales and the large number of active PlayStation users.
GTA 6 download codes on PS5 have extra restrictions that Xbox doesn't
Grand Theft Auto 6 download codes for PlayStation 5 in certain regions, including the UK, will have regional restrictions, unlike Xbox Series X/S codes. Rockstar Games confirmed that codes purchased in one territory can only be redeemed by PlayStation accounts from the same region, with Japan facing additional expiration limitations. These restrictions do not apply to Xbox Series X/S.
Console Gamers Bring Sharp Instincts to Their First Real-Money Slot Gameplay
Console gamers often misunderstand real-money slot gameplay due to ingrained instincts from video games, which have skill layers absent in slots. While both involve randomness, slots are designed for the operator's profit, unlike games where player skill influences outcomes. Understanding concepts like Return-to-Player (RTP) and volatility is crucial, similar to reading game specifications, as slots offer no skill-based advantage.
Will you power down your PS5 for a week in protest of Sony's all-digital future? A new petition encourages you to pull the plug on PlayStation
A fan-organized protest is encouraging PlayStation 5 owners to boycott Sony's platforms for a week in response to the company's planned discontinuation of physical media by 2028. The movement, spearheaded by the Twitter account 'Does It Play?', aims to demonstrate player dissatisfaction with Sony's perceived disconnect from its community and its shift towards an all-digital future.
Games Inbox: Are people still excited for Tomb Raider games?
Readers discuss the declining popularity of the Tomb Raider series, questioning if remakes can revive its former glory. Other topics include the potential of ad-based game streaming, the perceived lack of excitement for the Switch 2's second year lineup, and the business decisions behind game pricing and remakes.
MMO Week in Review: FFXIV in Berlin, Black Desert in SoCal, and Jimothy saturation
This week's MMO news covers Final Fantasy XIV's Fan Festival in Berlin, Black Desert's Heidel Ball, and the early access launch of SEED. Updates were also provided for Dungeons & Dragons Online, Aion 2, and The Guild reunion movie. Several games saw controversy including World of Warcraft staff cheating, Elder Scrolls Online capacity issues, and Microsoft layoffs.
Sony Ending PlayStation Discs Driven by Consumer Behavior, Says Former Valve Writer
Former Valve writer Chet Faliszek believes Sony's decision to end PlayStation disc production is driven by consumer preference for digital media, not a conspiracy. He cited declining physical game sales at retailers like GameStop and Sony's own digital sales figures as evidence that consumers are actively choosing digital convenience over physical copies.
Companies Should Provide Physical Releases if People Want Them, Says Rockstar Games Co-Founder
Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser stated that companies should continue to offer physical game releases if fans desire them, despite his personal preference for digital convenience. Former writer Jeffery Jones also discussed the experience of owning physical copies versus the utility of digital downloads. The conversation arises amidst discussions about the future of physical media, including Grand Theft Auto 6's lack of a disc and Sony's planned end to PlayStation discs in 2028.