Sony's eighth-gen console is just as relevant as ever. These are the all-time best games on the PS4.

The 15 Best PS4 Games - CNET

The next wave of PlayStation Plus games will be revealed by Sony later this week.

PS Plus March 2025 FREE PS4 and PS5 games reveal time, date, leaks and predictions | Gaming | Entertainment | Express.co.uk

PS Plus is Sony’s monthly membership program that grants access to online gaming. You don’t need it for streaming movies or TV shows on Netflix and other services, or for free-to-play games like Warzone or Fortnite.

PlayStation Plus Free Games March 2025: Predictions, Rumors, Leaks And More

Nightreign is expected to do well for the company. "As a cooperative survival action title, the spin-off title offers a new way to enjoy the franchise with a game design that differs completely from the original, in an effort to maximize the LTV [long-term value] of the series."

Dark Souls and Elden Ring owner says Shadow of the Erdtree boosted revenue, and plans to expand its gaming division thanks to investment from Sony | GamesRadar+

But instead - instead of the usual, late-gen chatter about such-and-such blockbuster surely being a PS6 launch game, or so-and-so remasters being a final, Switch-style scrape of the HD remake barrel; instead of the predictable tentpole rhythms - we are smack bang in the middle of the PS5's prime.

Is Sony beginning to coast? With PS5 sales up and first-party releases down, gaming's eerie new normal takes shape | Eurogamer.net

Available in 73 territories, the PlayStation Network is a vitally important part of the Sony brand. Not only does it serve as a subscription service and online marketplace, but its use is critical to a wide array of games. Any outage to the PlayStation Network or PSN is particularly damaging ...

The PSN Outage Highlighted One of the Most Frustrating Aspects of Modern Gaming - And It Needs to Change

Get excited for a new major sci-fi game from Housemarque and two heavy-hitters from third-party studios.

Sony's latest State of Play highlights three incredible sci-fi games coming to PlayStation 5 | Space

Sony

sony

On September 15, 2024, Sony announced a partnership with Circle to use bridged USDC on its new Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain, Soneium. This move, coupled with other partnerships such as Sonieum’s relatively recent integration announcements with Alchemy, Chainlink, and Optimism could position Sony as a major player in Web3. Sony and Web3 About a year ago, Sony made its first foray into the Web3 world by announcing a joint venture with Startale Labs to the tune of about $750,000, establishing Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd., with Sony Network Communications owning 90% of this company and Startale Labs owning the remaining 10%. Since that time, Sony has renamed Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd. to Sony Block Solutions Labs. This recent announcement essentially has Circle and Sony collaborating to use bridged USDC as the primary token on Soneium. Sony’s previous integrations with other blockchains are positioned to help enhance Soneium’s efficiency and scalability. For example, Soneium’s use of Optimism’s Op Stack and Optimistic Rollups can help address Ethereum’s processing speeds and relatively high transaction costs. Sony’s Corporate Infrastructure Sony’s corporate infrastructure is extremely vast and casts a wide net, with a huge portfolio of different companies focused on electronics, semiconductors, media financial services, and much more. This presents a variety of interesting use cases for bridging the divide between Web3 and Web3. The usage of Sony Network Communications as the parent company for Sony Block Solutions is particularly interesting given Sony Network Communications’ purview of communication services (such as the NURO Hikari fiber-optic broadband service), IoT products/services, AI services (such as NURO AI), and other cloud services. This could point to a potential infrastructure blockchain use-case for Soneium, enabling Sony to leverage blockchain for its other subsidiaries and service offerings. The use of USDC is also interesting for Sony, given that Sony Financial Group operates primarily in Japan, with subsidiaries such as Sony Life Insurance and Sony Bank. This could potentially enable Sony to better hedge against currency fluctuations, facilitate cross-border transactions, expand into new markets, or even develop new innovative financial products. Soneium and Beyond While Sony’s announcements strictly reference only “killer use cases” thus far, it will be interesting to see where Sony decides to implement Soneium first. Soneium Spark, an incubation and “builder-focused program,” is currently soliciting projects specifically in DeFi (such as DEXs, options, and stablecoins) and Web3 experiences (NFTs, gaming, and entertainment). Sony has announced that some of its subsidiaries, such as the Sony Innovation Fund, Sony Music, and Sony Pictures will be a part of Soneium Spark. With a mixture of marketing, business, technical, and financial support offered to participants, the use cases that emerge from Soneium Spark will be interesting to see and implement once the first cohorts are announced. Conclusion As Sony continues to explore what is truly possible and feasible in the world of Web3, its partnership with Circle, combined with the multitude of partnerships and the development of Soneium, could serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth in any industry Sony is currently a part of. By embracing decentralization, transparency, and user ownership, Sony can position itself as a leader in the Web3 future. On September 15, 2024 , Sony announced a partnership with Circle to use bridged USDC on its new Ethereum Layer-2 blockchain, Soneium. This move, coupled with other partnerships such as Sonieum’s relatively recent integration announcements with Alchemy , Chainlink , and Optimism could position Sony as a major player in Web3. September 15, 2024 September 15, 2024 Alchemy Alchemy Chainlink Chainlink Optimism Optimism Sony and Web3 Sony and Web3 About a year ago , Sony made its first foray into the Web3 world by announcing a joint venture with Startale Labs to the tune of about $750,000, establishing Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd., with Sony Network Communications owning 90% of this company and Startale Labs owning the remaining 10%. About a year ago About a year ago Since that time, Sony has renamed Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd. to Sony Block Solutions Labs. This recent announcement essentially has Circle and Sony collaborating to use bridged USDC as the primary token on Soneium. Sony’s previous integrations with other blockchains are positioned to help enhance Soneium’s efficiency and scalability. For example, Soneium’s use of Optimism’s Op Stack and Optimistic Rollups can help address Ethereum’s processing speeds and relatively high transaction costs. Sony’s Corporate Infrastructure Sony’s Corporate Infrastructure Sony’s corporate infrastructure is extremely vast and casts a wide net, with a huge portfolio of different companies focused on electronics, semiconductors, media financial services, and much more. This presents a variety of interesting use cases for bridging the divide between Web3 and Web3. The usage of Sony Network Communications as the parent company for Sony Block Solutions is particularly interesting given Sony Network Communications’ purview of communication services (such as the NURO Hikari fiber-optic broadband service), IoT products/services, AI services (such as NURO AI ), and other cloud services. NURO Hikari NURO Hikari NURO AI NURO AI This could point to a potential infrastructure blockchain use-case for Soneium, enabling Sony to leverage blockchain for its other subsidiaries and service offerings. The use of USDC is also interesting for Sony, given that Sony Financial Group operates primarily in Japan, with subsidiaries such as Sony Life Insurance and Sony Bank. This could potentially enable Sony to better hedge against currency fluctuations, facilitate cross-border transactions, expand into new markets, or even develop new innovative financial products. Soneium and Beyond Soneium and Beyond While Sony’s announcements strictly reference only “killer use cases” thus far, it will be interesting to see where Sony decides to implement Soneium first. Soneium Spark, an incubation and “builder-focused program,” is currently soliciting projects specifically in DeFi (such as DEXs, options, and stablecoins) and Web3 experiences (NFTs, gaming, and entertainment). Sony has announced that some of its subsidiaries, such as the Sony Innovation Fund, Sony Music, and Sony Pictures will be a part of Soneium Spark. With a mixture of marketing, business, technical, and financial support offered to participants, the use cases that emerge from Soneium Spark will be interesting to see and implement once the first cohorts are announced. announced announced Conclusion Conclusion As Sony continues to explore what is truly possible and feasible in the world of Web3, its partnership with Circle, combined with the multitude of partnerships and the development of Soneium, could serve as a catalyst for innovation and growth in any industry Sony is currently a part of. By embracing decentralization, transparency, and user ownership, Sony can position itself as a leader in the Web3 future.

Sony's Web3 Journey: A New Era for the Tech Giant

In a recent joint venture announcement, Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs have joined forces to create a blockchain platform aimed at becoming a vital part of the infrastructure. web3 The newly formed company, based in Singapore, is dedicated to developing a web3 network that fosters value exchange in the digital realm. While Sony Network Communications holds the majority ownership, the partnership with Startale Labs brings technical expertise to the table. While the specifics of the forthcoming "Sony Chain" remain shrouded in mystery, the potential implications for Sony enthusiasts and the broader web3 landscape are nothing short of intriguing. This article will delve into the details and implications of this groundbreaking collaboration. On September 12th, Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs announced a joint venture agreement to create a blockchain focused on becoming the "backbone of global web3 infrastructure". The agreement officially established a joint venture company based in Singapore named "Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd.". The mission statement of Sony Network Communications Labs is to "build a Web3 network for the new era where everyone can freely exchange value in a digital society." Sony Network Communications Labs's stated focus is to utilize advancing blockchain technology to create "killer web3 use cases" that ultimately "drive the adoption of web3". According to the announcement, Sony Network Communications will own 90% of the newly formed company, while Startale Labs will control the remaining 10%. This new blockchain-focused company was given a starting capital of 1 million SGD (or roughly $731,000 USD). Here is a link to the official website for Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd.: https://www.sonynetwork.co.jp/sonynetworkcomlabs/en/ Interestingly, this is not the first business dealing between the two companies as, back in June, Sony announced $3.5 million (approximately 500 million JPY) in seed funding was being invested in Startale Labs. " " We are excited to announce the establishment of this joint venture with Startale Labs, a company renowned for its advanced Web3 technology and expertise. By combining Sony Network Communications' experience in communication, IoT, AI, and solution services with Startale Labs' insights and technical prowess in Web3, we aspire to create a global infrastructure that underpins the Web3 era, driving innovation across existing industries. - , President and Representative Director of Sony Network Communications Jun Watanabe In a post celebrating the massive agreement with Sony, Startale Labs CEO Sota Watanabe exclaimed that "Sony's Blockchain" has the potential to "become the world's top project". A healthy rivalry may be brewing between the new "Sony Chain" and Coinbase's Base, as Sota Watanabe also went on to claim his project could surpass the Base blockchain. No official details have been made known about the upcoming Sony Chain. This means we can only speculate as to which network the blockchain will be built on. Startale Labs has built on the Polkadot network previously, being the creators of the Astar Network parachain. With Startale Labs' previous experience, it would not be too crazy to suspect the Sony Chain will be built on the Polkadot network. " " Following our capital partnership with Sony Network Communications in June and the subsequent announcement of this joint venture, we are looking forward to collaborating more deeply. This joint venture is founded on the synergy of our respective assets and knowledge, aimed at co-developing leading blockchain and its ecosystem. We are determined to discern web3 trends and drive them globally. - , CEO of Startale Labs Sota Watanabe Selfishly, I am quite interested to know if the Sony Blockchain will collaborate with PlayStation, as I am an avid fan of their gaming system. Frustratingly, we weren't given much information, and it is not clear if the newly formed company will leverage Sony's varied businesses, services, and intellectual properties. What I do know for a fact is I will be following this Sony Blockchain story and keeping you, the reader, updated on any interesting developments. Do you think this is a good move by Sony to create their own blockchain? Will this start a trend of traditional companies creating their own blockchain? What are your thoughts on this news? Join the conversation below! Also published . here

Sony's Game Changing Leap into Web3: Jumping From PlayStation to Blockchain

How the amalgamation of cutting-edge technologies is paving the way for a robust blockchain infrastructure for global web3 applications. The Tipping Point of a Technological Revolution In the ever-evolving digital age, a crucial question arises: How can the collective power of communication, IoT, AI, and web3 technologies be harnessed for a new era of blockchain? As industries move towards decentralization, the need for a robust, scalable, and reliable blockchain infrastructure is paramount. This article delves deep into how the synthesis of these technologies can create a formidable foundation for global web3 applications, propelling society into the next chapter of the digital revolution. IoT: The Digital Nervous System of the Future Blockchain Sensors, Actuators, and the Blockchain Symphony The Internet of Things (IoT) brings a multitude of connected devices that generate a vast amount of data. Integrating this data into a blockchain infrastructure ensures real-time, verifiable, and immutable records. Imagine a world where every device, from your refrigerator to your car, interacts with a decentralized system, offering unparalleled transparency and security. The Dawn of a New Era: Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs Forge a Path in Global Web3 Infrastructure Two powerhouses come together to shape the future of decentralized technology. But what does this mean for the world at large? A Meeting of Minds in the Blockchain Universe Tokyo and Singapore, two tech-centric cities, have become the breeding ground for an exciting partnership. Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs have just unveiled their ambition to create a game-changing blockchain designed to anchor global web3 infrastructure. This is not merely a collaboration; it's an alliance formed with a singular vision: to harness the full potential of blockchain technology and craft breakthrough web3 applications that resonate across the globe. Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd.: A Nexus of Innovation September will see the birth of a new entity, "Sony Network Communications Labs Pte. Ltd." Through this venture, both firms will leverage their distinctive strengths, aiming to foster value-added services across diverse sectors, from gaming and entertainment to imaging and financial services. Leaders at the Forefront: Words from the Visionaries Jun Watanabe on the Joint Venture's Promise The fusion of Sony Network Communications' rich legacy in communication, IoT, AI, and diverse solution services with Startale Labs' advanced expertise in Web3 heralds a future where innovation isn't just promised – it's assured. Watanabe’s vision clearly indicates a stride towards a global infrastructure that is set to redefine industries. Sota Watanabe’s Global Aspirations With an established capital partnership already in place, the Startale Labs' CEO expresses immense enthusiasm for the deeper collaboration this venture promises. The focus? To discern and drive global web3 trends through a synergistic blend of both companies' assets and knowledge. Peeling Back the Layers: Who are the Players? Sony Network Communications Inc.: Pioneers of Change From its inception in 1995 as an ISP, Sony Network Communications has consistently evolved. Today, they champion a vision that screams of change and innovation for humanity, with endeavors spanning from high-speed broadband services to promoting new businesses in the Web3 domain. Startale Labs: Crafting the Web3 Narrative Based in Singapore, Startale Labs isn’t just another tech company. Their mission is clear: create innovative products that propel the adoption of Web3 technologies into the mainstream. A Union Destined to Shape Tomorrow In the dynamic realm of technology, few partnerships hold the promise to be truly transformative. This joint venture between Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs is one of them. By uniting their unparalleled expertise and vision, they're not just shaping the future of web3 infrastructure – they're setting the stage for the next chapter of digital evolution. Don’t forget to like and share the story! Vested Interest Disclosure: This author is an independent contributor publishing via our brand-as-author program. Be it through direct compensation, media partnerships, or networking, the author has a vested interest in the company/ies mentioned in this story. HackerNoon has reviewed the report for quality, but the claims herein belong to the author. #DYOR

Sony Network Communications and Startale Labs Forge a Path in Global Web3 Infrastructure

Sony Network Communications y Startale Labs forjan un camino en la infraestructura Web3 global

Sony Network Communications et Startale Labs ouvrent la voie à l'infrastructure Web3 mondiale

सोनी नेटवर्क कम्युनिकेशंस और स्टार्टेल लैब्स ने ग्लोबल वेब3 इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर में एक रास्ता तैयार किया

Sony Network Communications と Startale Labs がグローバル Web3 インフラストラクチャへの道を開拓

Sony Network Communications e Startale Labs abrem caminho na infraestrutura global Web3

Sony Network Communications và Startale Labs mở đường cho cơ sở hạ tầng Web3 toàn cầu

索尼网络通信和 Startale Labs 打造全球 Web3 基础设施之路

The Prologue 🎥 In late November 21, 2014 - Pictures Entertainment was by a group of hackers. They leaked confidential data from the film studio like personal information about Sony Pictures employees and their families, emails between employees, information about executive salaries at the company, copies of then-unreleased Sony films, plans for future Sony films, scripts for certain films, and other information. Sony hacked But, why hack Sony Pictures Entertainment? The group demanded that Sony/ withdraw its upcoming film - The Interview, A comedy about a plot to assassinate North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. The group threatened terrorist attacks at cinemas screening the film. After many major U.S. theater chains opted not to screen the film in response to these threats, Sony chose to cancel the film’s formal premiere. So this turned up like resistance against the release of this film and apparently, this made everyone think that the hacker group must have emerged from North Korea. After evaluating the software, techniques, and network sources used in the hack, United States intelligence officials alleged that the attack was sponsored by the government of North Korea, which has since denied all responsibility. But hackers and computer experts questioned the narrative - So there’s room for doubt! Is it really North Korea? A Fine Morning All this chaos started on a very fine morning when the Sony executives received an email from an unknown group so-called demanding or otherwise, . This email was treated as spam and was ignored by most of the executives. But the game was already played - malware got activated by that time of interaction with the email and it started to spread in every possible network connection stealthily. “God’sApstls” “monetary compensation” “Sony Pictures will be bombarded as a whole” All hell broke loose when a group calling themselves the Guardians Of Peace [GOP] appeared on Sony computers. Within a few weeks, a mountain of data including movies, salaries, and private emails got dumped on the internet. Not only salacious emails of top executives but also Sony employees’ social security numbers, and medical records got leaked online. The White House did not make the discussion about the evidence, but the FBI came up with some details. It was the first time a president has blamed a Nation-state for a major cyber attack on American soil. The FBI announced today that… And we can confirm that North Korea engaged in this attack. -Barack Obama Bret Leatherman is a Special Agent in the FBI’s Cyber Division. Based on what’s publicly known, the hack seems to have gone down in four phases. Phase 1 - Spear Phishing. Phase 2 - Privilege Escalation. Phase 3 - Data Theft. Phase 4 - Data Destruction. The Approach First - Spear phishing, was likely how the hackers got into Sony. Somebody within a company or organization would receive an email that looks like a legitimate email that might contain an attachment or a link to a website and once you click on it, you may be directed to a malicious site or you could have triggered a malicious program to run in your computer and thus compromising yourself. For hackers, it is like gaining border access, their piece of software inside the network will let them expand from the border. Second - Privilege Escalation, Once the attackers get inside the network, their very first step would be escalating their privileges. The attackers were looking for users like “admin”, “CEO” or “CFO” because they have greater access to system files than ordinary employees. Since the malware affected the entire network, this phase was not hard for them. Third - Data theft, After gaining god-like access to the network, attackers began to exfiltrate the data. It is said that it might have taken several months for the attackers to exfiltrate all the data from the Sony network. Forth - Data Destruction, Came the grand finale and this phase makes the Sony hack a unique one. The malware was very much destructive that it almost destroyed all possible documents and files from the Sony network leaving them bare-handed. But still, all these conclusions made by the FBI did not prove the origin of the attack. How was the U.S Government so sure it was North Korea? Beyond the FBI, the NSA - National Security Agency one of America’s top-notch spy powers was reported to have evidence that it was North Korea. But the NSA won’t confirm or deny anything. Clever guys right? A few weeks after the hack FBI released vague evidence pointing to North Korea in which security experts and hackers quickly found holes and poked them loud. All these controversies led hackers and security experts to think if it’s really North Korea that is behind the curtains or any other. First of all, the agenda changed substantially at several points throughout the hack. That kind implies multiple different actors to me. -Marc Rogers As Head of Information Security at Cloudflare said, at first the email demanded money which actually doesn’t point to North Korean hackers because they are not unemployed or wandering for money. These all exactly create doubt that North Korea is part of the party. If yes, who else was at the party? Marc Rogers In 2011 - “Anonymous”, A notorious hacker group launched a DDoS [Distributed Denial Of Services] against Sony websites to protect George Hotz also known as Geohot, the first guy to jailbreak an iPhone when he was just 17. A few years later he again jailbroke a Sony Playstation 3 which Sony doesn’t seem to like. So maybe Anonymous was one among the party. Another interesting story about Sony being a target for hackers is in 2005, security researchers found suspicious software on CDs by the Sony BMG - Sony’s music division. The software that was on the CD did two things; First, it made computers incapable of copying music. Second, the software hid so you won’t be able to uninstall it. All these incidents made Sony a favorite and potential target for hackers at every step. Real Evidence? As a contradiction with the opinion of Marc Rogers, here came - Principal Security Researcher, Kaspersky Labs who think North Korea really is to be the one to blame. Kurtz is an expert in analyzing malicious code and coming up with defensive solutions. The Sony hack malware resembled the “ ” on South Korean Banks. There was also an interesting resemblance in both of the malware in that the word “Security” was misspelled in the exact same way. Kurt Baumgartner darkseoul attack - 2003 This led to the conclusion that both the malware shared a common code base. Also, both of the malware were of the “Wiper” category which wipes all the data from the targeted systems. All Though from these understandings it’s still unclear because there is no trace of association between North and South Korean hackers regarding this. Since those code bases are available open to hackers and each will have different versions of them and that is totally a common one. But wait the FBI got another one to put out. The Malware Source code did contain some IP addresses which indicates the computer’s location. FBI said those directly pointed to North Korea but this isn’t conclusive either because IP addresses can be easily faked in milliseconds. Okay for some moment let’s turn our pages to the side of Sony Pictures Entertainment and how they perceived this attack. Maybe the company should have had better security. It is pretty noticeable from blogs and research papers that the attack was not much sophisticated but still, it was successful. That may be because Sony company had less secured networks and followed Security practices inconsistently. Ultimately it all boils down to a fact that really matters how Sony should have defended this attack rather than a fact showing proof of the origin of the attack. Whether it’s North Korea or Russia who cares, It’s about people who got affected and held victims in the end. Matthew Preusch is an Attorney who represented Sony employees in the lawsuit against the studio. He said Sony didn’t do what a reasonable company should have done to protect private information on its system. The Poorness was able to be seen clearly starting from poor encryption methods and poor data segregation. But Sony Pictures declined to comment on these allegations and settled the lawsuit out of court. But it’s undeniable that private information that was leaked is going to be alive forever on the internet. so the real victims are the Sony employees. Whether it is North Koreans or Bored hackers, all competing theories lead to one conclusion that attributing a cyberattack is merely possible. Also published here. Feature image source.

From Breach to Fallout: The Story of the 2014 Sony Hack 

GM. It's Crypto Player One, the first and only daily newsletter on crypto gaming. We are the Drake of web3 gaming, consistently giving you the hits. Here's what we have for you today: Daily Trivia. Sony is dipping its toes in blockchain tech. In Other News. Daily Trivia Who are the original designers of the Mortal Kombat franchise? Scroll down to find out the answer. Sony Files a Blockchain and NFT-Related Patent Sony has a new patent that will allow them to track changes in ownership, metadata, and visual appearance of digital assets. These assets could be moments of gameplay, in-game characters, or items. According to the patent, Sony can track the history of the in-game items and see all its previous owners. They want to use a blockchain to record these items and include a token with a unique identifier. Last year, PlayStation (owned by Sony) filed this patent before gamers started losing their minds about gaming NFTs. Still, Sony and PlayStation have played around with NFTs in the last few months. During the EVO 2022 event, Sony asked fans what kinds of NFTs they would want to buy. Also, Sony partnered with Theta Labs to launch an NFT collection. PlayStation has its own Stars rewards program that features digital collectibles. The company has said that these items "are not NFTs" because you can't trade them. But with the new patent, it looks like Sony plans to explore and experiment on the blockchain. This is ultra bullish for the blockchain gaming space because Sony is one of the biggest game publishers. In Other News L’Oréal partners with the leading cross-game avatar platform, Ready Player Me. Polycade and Atari team up to create Web3 games and art collections. The layer 1 blockchain Aptos will partner with a South Korean gaming studio to focus on web3 gaming. Answer Ed Boon and John Tobias. New to the Newsletter? Sign up to get the first and only daily newsletter on web3 gaming — it’s free! Photo by on Nikita Kostrykin Unsplash

🎮 Sony Potentially Entering the World of Blockchain Gaming

We have news that will make PlayStation users very happy. The first details about the PSVR 2 headset, which was announced a while ago, have been released. Sony’s new toy looks great. Although Sony has already revealed a lot of information about PSVR 2 design, there will be more information later in 2022. But first, let’s take a look at the details announced today. PlayStation is experiencing very exciting days these days. The glorious success of and the hype surrounding have managed to excite all console gamers. In the midst of this excitement, the first images of have now been released. The article on talks about the visual compatibility of PSVR 2 and PS5. Horizon Forbidden West Elden Ring PlayStation VR 2 Sony’s official blog Let’s get the most important thing out of the way right away. looks great. The PSVR 2 headset and are a good match. It definitely looks much more futuristic than the first-generation Playstation VR. You can better understand this difference between the two generations by looking at the controllers. PSVR 2 PSVR 2 Sense controllers PSVR 2 Design Details There are interesting details about the . When designing the new headset, it was inspired by the PlayStation 5 from the beginning. The main reason for this is that the two products are always be used together. While the flat edges of the PSVR 2 make for a more comfortable headset experience, the rounded lines were used to achieve a futuristic look. PlayStation VR 2 design The headset part of the is designed to fit different head sizes. This way, all users can adjust it to their comfort level. new PlayStation VR 2 emphasizes that the user experience is paramount: he says. Hideaki Nishino “We designed the PlayStation 2 VR not only to make it an attractive part of your living room, but also to immerse you immersed in the game,” The biggest problem with the first generation PSVR was the heating problem. This problem, which makes users sweat, seems to have been solved with PSVR 2. A new ventilation system has been developed for this. The headset, which is thinner overall, also has an adjustment wheel for the lens. PSVR 2 Release Date Obviously, Sony cares a lot about VR technology in the new era. They want to build on the sales success of the Playstation 5 with the PSVR2. They’ve plenty of time and opportunity to do so. They’re in no hurry, because they want to solve the problems of the first generation and make a perfect headset. The hasn’t been announced yet. This isn’t so sad, because we know that more information will be released in the coming weeks. It’s safe to say that 2022 will be great for PlayStation 5 gamers. release date of PSVR 2

Everything We Know About Sony's PSVR 2 and Its Design

2022 is shaping up to be a historical year for gaming. Soon after Microsoft's game-changing acquisition of Activision Blizzard, Bungie that they've now joined the biggest name in gaming, Sony Interactive Entertainment. Our gaming community had lots to say about it. announced This thread by Limarc Ambalina, Zaeem Shoaib, Adrian Morales, Jack Boreham, Jose Hernandez, Marc Magrini and Blake Cram occurred in slogging's official #gaming channel, and has been edited for readability. Slogging Limarc Ambalina Feb 1, 2022, 11:57 AM BUNGIE JOINS SONY. Whaaaaat? https://www.bungie.net/en/Explore/Detail/News/50988 Limarc Ambalina Feb 1, 2022, 11:57 AM ""BUNGIE JOINS SONY INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT (“SIE”) We believe games have limitless potential, and that to do anything worthwhile in entertainment, we must bet big on our vision, on our studio, and on our incredible team of trusted creators who build unforgettable worlds that truly matter to people. In SIE, we have found a partner who unconditionally supports us in all we are and who wants to accelerate our vision to create generation-spanning entertainment, all while preserving the creative independence that beats in Bungie’s heart. Like us, SIE believes that game worlds are only the beginning of what our IPs can become. Together, we share a dream of creating and fostering iconic franchises that unite friends around the world, families across generations, and fans across multiple platforms and entertainment mediums. Today, Bungie begins our journey to become a global multi-media entertainment company. CREATIVE FREEDOM Since taking flight in 1991, Bungie has always charted the future with our own star map – a path that is driven by our people and for our community. We are continuing that journey with new worlds in development, and we can’t wait to share them with you. With SIE, the potential for our universes is unlimited. Our future games will take bold steps into unexplored spaces for Bungie, continue to push the boundaries of what is possible, and will always be built on a foundation of creating meaningful, lifelong friendships and memories. We remain in charge of our destiny. We will continue to independently publish and creatively develop our games. We will continue to drive one, unified Bungie community. Our games will continue to be where our community is, wherever they choose to play. With SIE's support, the most immediate change you will see is an acceleration in hiring talent across the entire studio to support our ambitious vision. If this speaks to you, and you want to help us put a dent in the universe, we are hiring across all disciplines for Destiny 2 and for all new worlds beyond. THREE DECADES AND COUNTING What makes our worlds come to life is our community and our people in the studio. Our people are the soul of Bungie. Empowered by our people, we have pushed the boundaries of what we thought was possible and transformed who we are as a company. Over the past 30 years, the inviting worlds we've built have turned into thriving communities, and that community is the true magic. These communities have taken Bungie beyond games. They have forged life-long bonds, and humbled us with the real, meaningful good they drive within us and the world. More than anything, SIE understands that our people and our community are both the priority, and the heart of our success, and are willing to stand alongside us as we continue to use our platform to drive action towards a more welcoming and equitable world. Our goal is to build a place where the world’s most creative and talented people can come and do their best work, no matter who they are, where they are from, or how they identify. That’s the real dent in the universe we want to make -- the one we want to last beyond us. Be a part of this future with us. See you Starside. -pete" From the article above! Limarc Ambalina Feb 1, 2022, 11:58 AM What do you think this means? Jack Boreham  Utsav Jaiswal  Blake Cram Limarc Ambalina Feb 1, 2022, 11:58 AM Microsoft buys Activision ,Sony buys Bungie... What's next? Nintendo buys Naughty Dog? Zaeem Shoaib Feb 1, 2022, 1:01 PM I'm thinking Sony has room for another acquisition. A Japanese developer/publisher, maybe Konami or Capcom. Adrian Morales Feb 1, 2022, 3:19 PM Strange acquisition, but it makes sense for Sony. With Microsoft acquiring all the FPS developers under the sun, Bungie seems the best fit for creating FPS titles under Sony's portfolio. I'm interested to see what comes from Bungie. With this acquisition, Sony effectively has purchased Destiny, Marathon, and Oni, and I would love to see a Marathon remaster. Better yet, I would like to see Bungie create a whole new IP to challenge 343's Halo Infinite. Jack Boreham Feb 1, 2022, 4:41 PM I'm not too fond of it. It feels weird. Didn't Activision originally own Bungie? Now they've got acquired again. So Xbox got Activision which used to own Bungie, which now PlayStation owns. So much segmentation in the market. Nintendo might as well sell off their IP. Otherwise, Xbox might buy them; it's getting ridiculous! Jack Boreham Feb 1, 2022, 4:42 PM I wonder why they decided to go with PlayStation; Halo didn't do that bad 😂 Jack Boreham Feb 1, 2022, 4:43 PM , I agree with this! I think it could be konami Jose Hernandez Feb 1, 2022, 6:28 PM The world of gaming keeps getting stranger and stranger Adrian Morales Feb 1, 2022, 7:06 PM Just for clarification, Bungie hasn't made a Halo game since Halo Reach in 2010. The IP was bought by Microsoft after Bungie split from the company. 343 Industries has made every Halo since Halo 4. Marc Magrini Feb 1, 2022, 8:11 PM Right now, it seems like Sony is just doing their best to stay on their feet after the recent Microsoft acquisitions. The only major releases Bungie had since leaving Microsoft were Destiny and Destiny 2. Like Adrian said, it might just be them trying to pool resources for more FPS titles. Another possibility is they're trying to cash in on the Destiny name; Bungie was looking to expand the series' universe, from what I remember. Blake Cram Feb 2, 2022, 2:19 AM Damn. The video games industry is popping off right now. Firstly, I think this is a different type of acquisition than we’ve seen from Microsoft. I don't think it's much of a reaction to what Xbox is doing, but a reflection of the trending industry: we’e now seeing less of a console war over “boxes” and more over “content”, similar to how the film and streaming industries are duking it out. Acquiring Bungie actually makes a lot of sense to me. Sony doesn't have many first person shooters, or huge online multiplayer experiences. Even though Bungie’s games both present and future will be multi-platform (the language from interviews seems to reflect this more than Microsoft is talking about CoD and Elder Scrolls—I still think that will be Xbox exclusive eventually) Sony is instead investing in Bungie’s tech and experience. Sony already has a rich history collaborating within its studios: way Ghost of Tsushima borrowed its horse riding from Naughty Dog Horizon Zero Dawn was made with Kojima’s custom game engine. I think Sony wants to use Bungie’s experience to build out new PlayStation games that utilize top-tier FPS and online multiplayer qualities— something they were already lacking even before Microsoft acquired Activision. And what does Destiny 2 lack? A really good campaign. I know Destiny has deep back end lore and some amazing raid content, but it's still arguably missing that AAA narrative experience that could make Destiny even better. That’s where Sony could help with their experience making some of the best single player story games in recent memory. So, I think this relationship is mutually beneficial, and has some exciting potential. Blake Cram Feb 2, 2022, 2:24 AM and Jack Boreham i also agree, PlayStation is going in on this arms race and they've hinted that there are more announcements to come. I think Konami would make the most sense because they are sitting on many games that they apparently don’t want to make. Capcom is killing it with Monster Hunter on Switch so that seems less likely to me. Although at this point, anything is possible. Let's just hope Sony acquires Konami, hires back Kojima, who then gets to make a ton of his bat-shit crazy art house games and we get a legit Kojima Metal Gear in the meantime. so 🔥 1 💚 1 Blake Cram Feb 2, 2022, 2:25 AM https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2022-01-31-playstation-bungie-will-considerably-accelerate-our-journey-with-multiplatform-live-service-games Zaeem Shoaib Feb 2, 2022, 3:49 AM Blake Cram Yes, they are really focusing on going multiplatform after their success on PC, and they have the cash on hand to acquire Konami or Capcom or even both to do so. It might not be Microsoft level of cash but they'll go after quality rather than quantity as they have historically. Though they do indicate that Bungie's games will be multiplatform, I think there's nothing stopping them from inking a deal down the line for an FPS with a narrative experience. I think Bungie is now big enough to work on two games at once - one multiplatform MMO shooter and a linear story-based one. PS. The Decima Engine is owned by Guerrilla, not by Kojima. They lent it to him for Death Stranding. Limarc Ambalina Feb 2, 2022, 7:05 AM Blake Cram very insightful point on "we’re now seeing less of a console war over “boxes” and more over “content”," I've actually never thought of it that way until you pointed it out Blake Cram Feb 2, 2022, 7:26 AM Absolutely. I think Bungie is going to use this opportunity to expand like crazy, probably fleshing out Destiny even bigger while getting into multiple projects. However, because it's been made clear that Bungie is remaining independent with publishing and creative rights, I would be really surprised if they make a game down the line that is a true Bungie/PlayStation FPS exclusive--since Bungie's ethos is so community driven. I do think that new IP from Bungie is inevitable, and I think Sony will live on some small kickbacks from Destiny being multi-platform, while having the Bungie team help out new Sony FPS and Online exclusives (perhaps from other developers) benefit from their expertise. I think that's the key to their content war Limarc Ambalina, which even I've been slow to come to grips with as I JUST wrote a piece about proper "console" wars...:lying_face: Blake Cram Feb 2, 2022, 7:30 AM and thanks for correction! I definitely goofed the connection between Guerrilla and Kojima.

Bungie Joins Sony in Surprise Acquisition

When Sony announced that the PS5 would launch in November, I decided that it was time to . I read a lot about preorder fiascos with previous launches, and even more about the risks of being an early adopter of a next-gen console, but I didn’t let any reading discourage me. say goodbye to my old Xbox 360 I discarded buying the new Xbox Series X mostly because of the game list I’m looking forward to playing, with titles like ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales’, ‘The Last of Us Part II’, or ‘Horizon: Forbidden West’. PS5 preorders started in September with and frustration for longtime fans; retailers jumped the gun with the release date, and scalpers bought any PS5 they could get their bots on, creating a severe scarcity problem. Sony even , but the problem persisted and almost two months later it’s practically impossible to find a retailer with PS5 in stock. Even after all those struggles, Sony still managed to ship PS5 in its first four weeks, and it’s expected to produce up to 18 million units in 2021. significant issues apologized 3.4 million I was lucky enough to get one through Best Buy and my Thanksgiving weekend was bliss, jumping between NYC buildings as Spider-Man. Since the PS5 is my first PlayStation ever, I went into Reddit to read about how other people used their new consoles and see what best practices I could learn. What I found was a sea of frustrated early adopters. People’s consoles were having GPU issues, getting bricked with games crashing left and right. Every few minutes, someone posted about how their game crashed. Or how their console stopped working after connecting an external drive. Or how their TVs were glitching with visual artifacts, likely created by faulty GPUs. Or how they broke their console after putting it in Rest mode (a suspension state for PlayStation). I kept telling myself that the only voices I was hearing from were those who were annoyed and upset, and that there were many more happy people with a perfectly functioning PS5, who were playing without issues and not thinking of writing about it on Reddit. Nonetheless, it filled me with doubt and paranoia. To avoid any issues, I proactively closed games after I was done playing them and I didn’t dare use Rest mode. of games glitching filled my PS5 news feed, right at the same time that my experience was enjoyable and my console worked flawlessly. Videos The PS5 DualSense controller also became a considerable upgrade from my old Xbox 360 controller. Haptic feedback adds a lot of sensations when playing video games that support it: pressing a button, pulling a trigger, or throwing a spiderweb all provide different sensations. It seems however that some people are already with this too; the resistance stopped working for some users. Some of those users reported broken springs as the culprit of their controller issues, although at least it isn’t a generalized problem. having troubles Every game I’ve seen so far impressed me with amazing graphics. Playing ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered’ or ‘Uncharted 4’ feels like participating in an interactive movie, and ‘Red Dead Redemption 2’ feels like having a vacation in the wilderness. Seeing games with real-time ray tracing is mesmerizing, and when combined with 60 FPS it’s truly breathtaking. This video provides a really good explanation of why ray tracing on a next-gen console is such a big deal. Unfortunately, there are very few titles currently developed with PS5 exclusively in mind. Very few games take full advantage of ray tracing, the controller haptics, or high frame rate graphics. ‘Marvel’s Spider-Man’ is one of those titles, released in 2018 and upgraded in its 2020 Remaster to push the PS5 to the limit. Of course, backward compatibility is a great feature for people like me, since I can now enjoy all of those PlayStation 4 exclusives that I missed playing years ago. Most of those games work well, but without any significant difference when compared with a PS4 Pro. For this reason, developers are not rushing to embrace these next-gen consoles just yet. Most of the AAA video games announced for 2021 will also release on PS4. It can’t be any other way, given that PlayStation had worldwide as of August 2020. That’s a big market that cannot be ignored, and it means that we should expect PS4 to still have a few years of active life ahead. This also means that games may be more expensive to release, as developers will focus on producing a PS4 version and an enhanced PS5 version. 113M active users This dichotomy in game versions has already started causing headaches to some game publishers. CD Projekt Red, developer of the popular series ‘The Witcher’, recently was under fire for the way it handled the release of its latest game ‘Cyberpunk 2077’. The game launched in early December 2020 as a PS4/Xbox One game (with a PS5/Xbox Series X version scheduled for 2021), but it was riddled with so many bugs that Sony decided to pull the game from its digital store; interestingly enough, the PS4 game performed better on PS5 than on PS4. What seems clear by now is that the PS5 doesn’t have any consistent hardware issues (nothing like the at least). All known incidents fall under what we should expect from any product launch at scale. Xbox 360 “Red Ring of Death” problem It’s been a little over a month since I started using the PS5, and given all the above I consider it a winning machine. Simply put, there is no PC under $500 that can reach the same gaming performance and visual fidelity as a PlayStation 5 or an Xbox Series X, so next-gen consoles are certainly democratizing gaming. Since we’re still a couple of years away from a full switch to focus exclusively on next-gen consoles, this means the PS5 will likely be relevant for the whole decade, way after the PlayStation 6 is announced around 2026. That’s a lot of gaming ahead of us and I couldn’t be happier about it. Did you like this article? Subscribe to get new posts by email. Also published at: https://geekonrecord.com/2020/12/30/my-first-month-with-the-playstation-5/

PlayStation 5 Review: My Initial Thoughts on Sony's New System

2022 was a tumultuous year for the PC and console games market for , which continues to grow as more gamers are attracted to competitive gaming. In February, Microsoft to bring ‘Call of Duty’ and other Activision games to ’s gaming platform if the Xbox maker is allowed to complete its much-contested US$69 billion acquisition of Activision. Regulators and competitors like Sony are giving much flak to the proposed Microsoft-Activision tie-up. esports struck a 10-year deal Nvidia Meanwhile, Sony’s gaming business is into PC and mobile, as the PlayStation 5 maker vies for talent as industry dealmaking heats up. looking to pour investment According to Newzoo’s , PC and console revenues reached US$92.3 billion in 2022, a decline of -2.2% year on year. The market may be cooling down after the pandemic, but overall performance still outshines previous forecasts. There are still plentiful opportunities to reach over one billion PC players and 611 million console players. 2023 report Player Behaviour The report also reveals that in the last six months, two out of three gamers played on a PC or console, and 72% of PC and/or console players used at least two platforms. The market also became more equitable in 2022, with women gamers accounting for 40% of the total PC and console player base. Playtime data shows that average playtime dropped by 23% across Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation from 2021 to 2022, seen as a corrective step as the market levels out to pre-pandemic activity. In the past six months, 66% of PC and/or console players spent money on video games. Longer game lifespan over new releases According to Newzoo, with the pandemic as a contributing factor, many companies delayed their major title releases from 2022 to at least 2023. These delays significantly impacted playtime and spending, though 2023 now has a packed release schedule, including huge games like . The Legend of Zelda: Tears of a Kingdom In the coming years, companies are expected to opt for fewer new releases and focus on extending the lifespan of existing franchises Essential business model trends show that more game publishers are pivoting their main franchises to service-based and subscription models. In the coming years, companies are expected to opt for fewer new releases and focus on extending the lifespan of existing franchises, especially with the success of titles like Fortnite, Minecraft, and ROBLOX. Gaming & media While remakes and remasters drove up engagement for older game IPs, 2022 was an inflection point for transmedia strategies. The HBO adaptation of was, of course, a major hit and an accelerant for the games, but it was by no means the only example. , the anime based on the controversial title, drastically the franchise’s popularity. The Last of U s Cyberpunk: Edgerunners boosted The behavior of esports gamers is characterized by a high level of engagement and loyalty to the games they play. As a result, esports companies are exploring new ways to engage with these gamers, including sponsorships, influencer marketing, and content creation. One business trend that has emerged is the creation of esports teams and leagues that are backed by major investors and corporations. These teams and leagues are helping to legitimize esports as a mainstream industry and attract a wider audience of fans and investors. This article was originally published by Navanwita Bora Sachdev on The Tech Panda.

Business Trends and Gamer Behavior in Esports on PC and Console

The eighth generation of gaming consoles saw the first-ever ‘pro’ version releases of the consoles on the market. Gaming consoles being updated part way through their life cycle is what we’re now calling a . Sony’s first foray into this came on November 10th, 2016, when the PS4 Pro was released. It focused these updates and console redesigns on making the consoles more powerful. mid-generation console update The PS4 launched in 2013 when 1080p visuals were still the norm, but within a few years, 1440P and 4K started becoming more and more prevalent. Gaming developers were offering higher resolution graphics options, and higher frame rates such as 60 frames per second or sometimes 120 frames per second on PC and console gamers were feeling left out. As a result, Sony updated its console to make it more modern and allow it to keep up with the growing demands of game development and photorealistic graphics. Now that they have released the PS5 console, gamers are wondering if another mid-generation update will be happening with Sony possibly releasing a PS5 Pro. Table of Contents Why The PS5 Needs A Pro Version How Much of An Upgrade Would We Be Getting? Should You Buy A PS5 Pro Upon Release? Final Thoughts Why The PS5 Needs A Pro Version The PS5 console is a little over two years old and while its technology is certainly powerful enough to run and play most games released on it, they can still make improvements to its performance. One of the biggest selling points of the current generation of gaming consoles was the promise of high-performance gameplay that would run at a consistent 60 frames per second. Games running at 60 frames per second aren’t a new thing. PC games with unlocked frame rates have been running at 60 frames per second or higher for years, so long as the computer playing those games was powerful enough to handle that high of a frame rate. Playing a game in 1080P resolution at 30 frames per second vs 1080P at 60 frames per second can be a completely different experience because 60 frames per second is often a much smoother experience gameplay wise. Games like Call of Duty have run at 60 frames per second on console for years because that smoother gameplay gives gamers a better experience and a competitive edge in multiplayer. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwkKou9mBtI&embedable=true For the last two years, gamers that own a PS5 console have enjoyed 60 frames per second or higher in the vast majority of games that they play. But titles such as A Plague Tale: Requiem and Gotham Knights have come out that were locked at 30 to 40 frames per second, which is upsetting gamers because they don’t play as smoothly as games that are running at 60 frames per second. Many gamers feel that because they spent $400 to $500 on a console, they spent too much money to be playing games that aren’t running at the highest resolution and frame rate possible. 4K visuals were also a big selling point for the current generation of consoles, but 4K is so demanding visually that both consoles can struggle to output at 4k 30 frames per second, let alone 60 frames per second. The PS5 struggles with this because its graphics card and CPU aren't always strong enough to render a game in native 4K resolution. To combat this, choose to employ a dynamic resolution scaling technique that changes the resolution on the screen depending on what's happening. In more demanding, action-heavy sequences, the resolution may drop from 4k to 1080p to maintain a stable frame rate of 60 FPS. However, in calmer sections where there may just be a dialogue between characters, the resolution will probably be able to be at 4K or just under it and maintain 60 FPS. Those struggles are why a mid-generation upgrade may be necessary, because more powerful hardware could allow for higher frame rates, higher resolutions, and better performance instead of gamers having to choose to switch between graphical performance modes. How Much of An Upgrade Would We Be Getting? The question on everyone's mind when it comes to console upgrades is: "What kind of upgrade?" and that's a fair question. The unfortunate answer is that at present, no one outside of Sony knows. When Sony released the PS4 Pro, it was 2.28 times more powerful than the original PS4. The PS4 Pro was released with an upgraded processor and graphics card that allowed it to run games at 4K or near 4K resolutions and higher frame rates if developers supported that. At present, there is, unfortunately, no way to say for sure what Sony may have in store for a PS5 Pro console. We can only speculate that Sony will do a similar processor and graphics card upgrade like they did with the PS4 Pro. Especially since the PS5's CPU and GPU architecture are based on AMD's RDNA 2, which was top-of-the-line in 2020. However, in the nearly three years since then, AMD has moved onto RDNA 3, which is more powerful and more power efficient. So it seems likely that Sony would choose to upgrade to RDNA 3 to create a more powerful console. Should You Buy A PS5 Pro Upon Release? Upgrading a game console is a big decision. Consoles cost hundreds of dollars, so buying a console is an investment that isn't taken lightly by consumers. Especially in the wake of both a pandemic and inflation that have caused prices to skyrocket exponentially. Without Sony making an official announcement, there's no way to know what the price point for a PS5 Pro will be. Consumers will have to wait for an official unveiling to decide for themselves whether the PS5 Pro will be worth it for them. Speaking personally, unless the vast majority of games that release aren't able to be played at 1080P, 60 frames per second as they are now, I can't see myself upgrading to a new console. 4K gaming doesn't do much for me because I can't see the difference between 1080P and 4K. But 4K is extremely important to some gamers, so upgrading or not upgrading is going to come down to each individual gamer and the value proposition that Sony offers with an upgraded PS5. Final Thoughts The PS5 Pro and mid-generation console upgrades, for now, are nothing more than speculation. There have been a few "leaks" on social media platforms and rumors started about dev kits for a PS5 Pro being delivered to major developers throughout the industry, but we know nothing definitive just yet. Until Sony makes an announcement, all we can do is speculate, but it seems likely that there will be a mid-generation update because of the PS4 getting one, and Sony's history of releasing different and/or updated versions of its consoles.

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