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There Is No Reason To Buy Another PlayStation Or Xbox
The author argues that upcoming PlayStation and Xbox consoles will be too expensive and lack compelling reasons to purchase, especially with the shift to digital-only distribution. Concerns are raised about the impact on the used games market, accessibility for players with poor internet, and the overall viability of the console market as attention shifts to mobile and other forms of entertainment.
Id Software veteran of over 20 years absolutely rips and tears into Microsoft after devastating layoffs: "XBOX decided half the team was no longer needed"
Long-time id Software developer Michael Maynard expressed his anger and sadness following significant layoffs at the studio, which he states impacted roughly half the team. Maynard, who had been with id Software for over 20 years, criticized Microsoft and Xbox for the decision, highlighting the loss of institutional knowledge and the impact on the studio's legacy. The article also briefly mentions Sony and Bungie's recent workforce reductions and John Romero's support for the affected developers.
This free software aims to turn Sony headphones into a head tracker for '200+ PC games'
A new open-source software allows users to utilize the motion sensors in compatible Sony headphones, such as the WH-1000XM5 and WF-1000XM5, for head tracking in over 200 PC games. This free tool, available on GitHub, captures orientation and gyroscopic data from the headphones and passes it to OpenTrack, enabling head tracking without additional hardware like webcams or infrared trackers.
Metal Gear Solid Snake actor David Hayter tells Sony "no disc, no buy" amid controversial decision to axe physical discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
Voice actor David Hayter, known for voicing Solid Snake, has voiced his opposition to Sony's reported decision to discontinue physical discs for new PlayStation games in 2028. Hayter stated "no disc, no buy," aligning with fans concerned about the shift towards digital-only distribution.
Sony killing physical PlayStation games has folks so angry that its announcement has even more views than Rockstar's GTA 6 trailer posts on Twitter
Sony's announcement regarding the discontinuation of physical PlayStation games has generated significant controversy, evidenced by its announcement post on Twitter receiving more views than Rockstar Games' Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer posts. Despite the higher view count for Sony's announcement, the engagement in terms of likes suggests a more negative reception compared to the Grand Theft Auto 6 trailer.
Mod förvandlar Sony-hörlurar till head tracker
A mod has been developed to transform Sony headphones into a head-tracking device, compatible with hundreds of games through OpenTrack software. This allows for enhanced immersion and control in various gaming experiences.
Morning Consolidation
A petition urging Sony to continue producing new physical PlayStation media has garnered nearly 200,000 signatures amidst growing backlash. This comes as Sony appears to be phasing out new physical releases for its consoles.
PS5 social media makes first post in six days and gets annihilated by angry fans
Sony's PlayStation social media accounts have resumed activity after a week of silence, only to be met with intense backlash from fans regarding the company's decision to cease physical game releases after 2027 and shut down PlayStation 3 and Vita digital stores. Despite the widespread anger and fan protests, Sony's posts have focused on promoting a new wireless fight stick, the FlexStrike, rather than addressing the concerns about physical media.
In 2009, late Nintendo president Satoru Iwata said it'll take "20 years or so" for game purchases to…
Former Nintendo president Satoru Iwata predicted in 2009 that it would take approximately 20 years for digital game purchases to become the majority. With Sony phasing out physical PS5 games by 2028 and Rockstar Games opting for digital or code-in-box releases for Grand Theft Auto 6, his prediction appears to be nearly accurate. While Xbox has not yet announced similar plans, the trend towards digital distribution is evident across the industry.
Xbox’s New Plan After Brutal Cuts: Focus On The Thing Called Xbox
Following significant layoffs, Xbox is refocusing its strategy on its core business, including its flagship console hardware and major IPs like Minecraft. This shift aims to address issues like spreading resources too thin and declining hardware revenue, despite industry-wide cost increases and component shortages. The restructuring also involves making some studios independent or selling them off.
'Physical media is what makes consoles the best place to play' — PlayStation fans pushing back against Sony's plan to end physical discs have managed to amass over 170,000 signatures in a bid to reverse the decision
PlayStation fans are protesting Sony's decision to end the production of physical game discs starting January 2028, with a petition amassing over 170,000 signatures. The petition argues that physical media offers true ownership, unlike digital licenses, and expresses concern over job losses in retail. This move follows the confirmation that Grand Theft Auto 6 will launch with a digital download code instead of a disc.
It sure feels like PlayStation underestimated the backlash to ending physical games: its first post in a week has been…
Sony's decision to end support for physical PlayStation games and shut down the PS3 and PS Vita storefronts has generated significant backlash. The company's first social media post since the announcement, discussing a fight stick controller, was met with widespread criticism and demands for physical media, indicating a potential underestimation of player sentiment.
The petition against Sony's decision to kill PlayStation physical discs has over 170,000 signatures
A petition against Sony's decision to end physical disc manufacturing for PlayStation in January 2028 has garnered over 170,000 signatures. The campaign, started by retailer PNP Games, argues against the loss of consumer ownership, reduced market choice, and damage to game preservation. The petition urges Sony to continue physical disc production beyond 2028.
List of PS3 Games on PlayStation Store With PS5, PS4 Cross-Buy
Sony is closing the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita in July 2027, impacting digital game purchases. Players can still buy games until then, with some PS1/PSP classics and digital PS3 titles offering cross-buy functionality on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.
Xbox Game Pass subscription numbers are reportedly well below where Microsoft wants them to be
Xbox Game Pass subscriber numbers have reportedly fallen to 30 million, significantly below Microsoft's target of 77 million by 2026. This decline follows a substantial price increase for Game Pass Ultimate and a change in strategy regarding day-one releases for Call of Duty titles. New Xbox CEO Asha Sharma cited Game Pass growth troubles as a reason for recent job cuts within the Xbox division.
Ex-Xbox dev slams game execs as ‘money grubbing idiots’ in quote of the year
A former Bungie and 343 Industries developer, Dan Callen, has criticized game executives, calling them 'stupid detached money grubbing idiots.' Callen shared an anecdote about former Xbox executive Don Mattrick suggesting Halo 4 should implement a real money auction house for mech skins, a concept that had previously failed in Diablo 3. This criticism comes amid recent layoffs at Sony and Microsoft, highlighting ongoing issues within the games industry.
"How much innovation can the end-user handle?" - Shawn Layden explains why he said Sony should have made PlayStation Portable 2 rather than PS Vita
Former PlayStation leader Shawn Layden argues that Sony's PlayStation Vita was over-innovated, leading to increased costs and lower sales compared to the successful PlayStation Portable. He suggests a simpler 'PSP2' with an added analog stick would have been more viable. Layden also discusses the broader industry challenge of game preservation across hardware generations and Sony's decision to close older digital storefronts.
Sony leadership says AI tools are "an important foundational technology supporting our strategy"
Sony Interactive Entertainment leadership has declared artificial intelligence a crucial foundational technology for their strategy, emphasizing its role in enhancing game development quality and speed rather than solely for cost efficiency. AI tools are being integrated to streamline repetitive tasks, enable faster iteration, and create richer in-game experiences and content. While acknowledging near-term efficiency gains, Sony is also exploring fundamental AI-first initiatives to maintain a leading position as the technology evolves.
PS Plus Essential July 2026 Monthly Free Games Rolling Out Now
Sony has begun rolling out the PlayStation Plus Essential free games for July 2026, including Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III, For the King II, and CrossCode for PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This announcement comes amidst backlash over Sony's decision to end disc production for PlayStation 5 games and speculation about upcoming price increases for the PlayStation Plus subscription service.
Games Inbox: Is the Xbox doomed to failure?
Readers express concerns about the future of Xbox, citing recent studio closures and a reliance on aging franchises like Halo and Gears of War. The discussion also touches on the shift towards digital-only games, the impact on game preservation, and the potential for companies like Sony to influence Kickstarter campaigns.
