Latest Playstation, multi-platform Game News & Updates
☁ Playstation, multi-platform News
328 articles
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformPSN Is Down
Sony's PlaYStation Network is experiencing network issues currently. The official PlayStation Status page notes that, "All services are experiencing issues." This includes account management, gaming and social, PlayStation Video, PlayStation Store, and PlayStation Direct. The website Downdetector(https://downdetector.co.uk/status/playstation-network/) notes that the PSN issues have been ongoing for hours already. People are reporting issues with logging in, launching games, and connecting to servers. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Screenshot-2026-07-24-at-11.07.28-AM.png?w=636) Oof. Whenever the PSN goes down, it's unfortunate, but the timing is especially tough for people wanting to try the Marvel Tokon multiplayer beta that started today, July 24. "We're aware that some PlayStation players are experiencing login and network issues. Our team is actively investigating the problem and working to identify the cause. We'll share updates as soon as we have more information," the developers wrote(https://x.com/MARVELTokon/status/2080634440670191989). On the PlayStation Status page, Sony wrote, "We're working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. Thank you for your patience."
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformMarvel Tokon: Fighting Souls' first DLC fighter revealed at Comic-Con
Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls will get Phoenix Cyclops as its first DLC character this fall, Arc System Works announced at San Diego Comic-Con.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformMarvel's Wolverine hype new trailer is overshadowed by drama
Insomniac's bloody superhero action game is shaping up well, based on a recent Comic-Con panel. But few seem to care.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformEx-PlayStation Boss Calls For A Return To The Good Old Days Of AA Gaming
Shawn Layden may not be at Sony anymore, but the former PlayStation boss has a lot of thoughts about the company, its games, and the industry as a whole. Specifically, he'd love to see a return to the PS1- and PS2-era of games, and he has a (somewhat vague) plan to achieve it. In a July 23 interview with Eurogamer(https://www.eurogamer.net/former-playstation-boss-shawn-layden-bringing-double-a-back), Layden spoke at length about how unsustainable the current model of game development is. He discussed the untenable ballooning budgets of recent years, how niche gaming is compared to the universality of movies and music, and how the current structures just don't hold up. Tucked into the interview was a mention of PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2 games. "The problem we see there is the current model incentivises or almost dictates that to get funding--certainly in the triple-digit million era--you better be a sequel or you better be based on something like Lord of the Rings, or you had better be 'it's just like Grand Theft Auto but…,' he said, "So we make all those kinds of games, we fund those kinds of games. But the quirky kind of stuff you saw on PS1 and PS2, we don't see so much." Layden admitted that the PS1 and PS2 had such "wacky" games because the incentives were different at the time and players weren't so siloed in their communities (re: more willing to try new experiences because gaming was still so new). Someone so steeped in Call of Duty may not play a Skate, or someone wrapped up in Halo may not give a Lies of P a try. But for Layden, that's the exact problem he hopes to solve with his plan. "We keep making more of the same thing; bad habits are hard to stop," he said. "That's why I'm trying to put together a publishing concern that will address that underserved AA market, not only from the consumers I believe it can appeal to, but the developers who want to go back there." A "publishing concern" certainly sounds like vague corporate gobbledygook. Maybe it is! Layden didn't expand any further on it with Eurogamer, but the theory is that he could be hinting at some sort of investment strategy to give AA studios--think of a developer like Asobo Studio (A Plague Tale: Requiem(https://www.gamespot.com/games/a-plague-tale-requiem/)) or Questline (Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon(https://www.gamespot.com/games/tainted-grail-the-fall-of-avalon/))--a chance at survival in what's becoming a succeed-or-die industry. He also touched on how much shorter games of that era used to be. Friends of his, according to Eurogamer, told him that they "miss the days" of finishing a game. That's something he'd love to bring back: the ease with which it is to beat a game (because now, games these days feel like 1000-hour affairs or even second jobs). "Let's go back to understanding not only 'What did you want to build?' but 'Who are we building it for?'" he continued. "When the average gamer was between 16 and 24, you are time-rich and money-poor; but if you're between 28 and 32, you may not be money-rich, but you're definitely time-poor. So let's keep that in mind, folks."
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformDisney’s Former CEO Seems To Have No Memory Of Approving Kingdom Hearts
Kingdom Hearts is such a significant part of many people's lives, but for former Disney CEO Michael Eisner, greenlighting the iconic Square Enix franchise was just another Tuesday. Eisner must have taken a trip through Castle Oblivion, because he seems to have forgotten why he approved the series. Reporter Stephen Totilo of Game File(https://www.gamefile.news/p/delphi-interactive-james-bond-fifa-michael-eisner-disney) briefly had the ear of Eisner after a panel about video game company Delphi Interactive, for which Eisner is an investor. Totilo asked the 84-year-old businessman if he recalled giving the go-ahead for Kingdom Hearts, which launched on PlayStation 2 in 2002. Eisner simply responded: "No." Totilo says he clarified to Eisner that he was pitched the game in Tokyo and it was a crossover between Final Fantasy and Disney characters. While that jogged Eisner's memory a bit, he failed to remember why he gave Square the thumbs-up, according to Totilo. At least one person from that Tokyo meeting remembers how it went down--per Kingdom Hearts Insider(https://www.khinsider.com/news/Otocoto-reveals-history-of-how-Kingdom-Hearts-got-approved-by-Eisner-17299), Shuji Utsumi, then the managing director for Disney Interactive's Asia Pacific division, detailed that faithful day when he ran Kingdom Hearts by Eisner and over 100 members of management. Utsumi characterized Eisner's demeanor as that of an "ancient Chinese Emperor," and regarding the pitch for Kingdom Hearts, Eisner's response was "Keep at it, and do it right." The origin story of the wonderful and strange Kingdom Hearts series is well-known among hardcore fans, stemming from a chance encounter between Square's Shinji Hashimoto and a Disney executive on an elevator. Even with how big the first Kingdom Hearts and its subsequent follow-ups grew, it shouldn't be too surprising that it was just a blip to Eisner, who ran the behemoth entertainment corporation from 1984 to 2005. As for what's next for the franchise, Kingdom Hearts I-III Collection(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/preorders-for-kingdom-hearts-collection-i-iii/) is due for release in October, though its reveal was marred by some questionable artwork(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/players-think-kingdom-hearts-new-art-is-ai-generated/). There's no word on when Kingdom Hearts 4(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/kingdom-hearts-4-gets-a-surprise-look-at-nintendo-direct-2026/) will come out, but with any luck, we'll hopefully receive news at next month's D23 expo(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/whats-next-for-disney-games-d23-is-about-to-tell-us/). The Best Way To Play Kingdom Hearts !3975724-kh4sora.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975724-kh4sora.jpeg?w=636) !3975734-kingdomhearts.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975734-kingdomhearts.jpeg?w=636) !3975729-kingdomheartschainofmemories.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975729-kingdomheartschainofmemories.jpeg?w=636) !3975725-kingdomhearts2.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975725-kingdomhearts2.jpeg?w=636) !3975732-kingdomheartsre-coded.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975732-kingdomheartsre-coded.jpg?w=636) !3975727-kingdomhearts358:2.jpeg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975727-kingdomhearts358:2.jpeg?w=636) !3975728-kingdomheartsbirthbysleep.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1599/15997278/3975728-kingdomheartsbirthbysleep.png?w=636) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/the-best-way-to-play-kingdom-hearts/2900-4082/)
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformNew PS5 Update Is Out Now, Makes Reading Easier
A new firmware update for PS5 consoles has been released, and as usual, it's not much to write home about. PS5 update version: 26.04-13.60.00 once again keeps things simple, offering a very incremental enhancement to the Sony-produced hardware. "We've improved the messages and usability on some screens," the extremely brief update notes(https://www.playstation.com/en-za/support/hardware/ps5/system-software-info/) read. The last major PS5 update was focused on the PS5 Pro, as it introduced an upgraded version of PSSR (PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution) for owners of the beefier machine. Beyond that, we've seen an improved Friends Activity widget, the option to check your PS5 console serial number, and a power saver mode added in older firmware updates alongside the usual rounds of stability improvements. Just in time for several highly anticipated games in August and September, like Control Resonant(https://www.gamespot.com/games/control-resonant/), Onimusha: Way of the Sword(https://www.gamespot.com/games/onimusha-way-of-the-sword/), and Marvel Tokon: Fighting Souls(https://www.gamespot.com/games/marvel-tokon-fighting-souls/). While these announcements are also usually brushed off, people online are using them lately to voice their displeasure with Sony's decision to kill PlayStation game discs in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/). Every post by the company online has been met with a flood of negative responses calling on people to boycott the system or purchase the games on a different platform, as part of a campaign(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/over-220000-people-petition-sony-not-to-kill-physical-playstation-game-discs/) to persuade the company(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-disc-death-sends-the-internet-into-its-physical-media-defense-arc/) to offer some form of physical media option in 2028 and beyond. Is it working? Probably not, as Sony and third-party publishers are weathering the storm of criticism, as a digital-only marketplace will be much more lucrative(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-sony-killing-discs-its-all-about-profitability-and-control-expert-says/?thumbnailid=1807886) for them in the future.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformAnalyst Says Sony Killing Physical PS5 Games “Dooms” Brick-And-Mortar Stores
Sony's decision to kill physical PlayStation games in January 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) has, understandably, gotten under the skin of just about everyone. And while Disgea's creator says the company should just stop making consoles altogether(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/disgaea-creator-says-sony-may-as-well-scrap-playstation-consoles-if-its-killing-game-discs/) if there won't be any more physical games, an analyst is sounding the alarm on how Sony's decision could be the death knell for brick-and-mortar gaming stores in the future. Michael Pachter, managing director of strategic planning at the LA-based financial services firm Wedbush Securities, spoke to CNBC on July 21(https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/22/sonys-playstation-disc-decision-threatens-a-7-billion-resale-market-.html) about the possible ramifications of Sony's choice. He said that the company's decision could save Sony some money, but it ultimately feels anti-consumer. Pachter then emphasized just how important the used-gaming market is for all consumers. "Realistically, at least 1/3 of games have been sold historically as used, and the games that were sold used also provided currency to the gamer who traded them in as cash to pay for new games," he said. "Brick and mortar game retail is doomed." This is in stark contrast to what GameStop CEO Ryan Cohen said on July 17. As the top man of one of the largest gaming retailers in the world, Cohen expressed how "totally irrelevant(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/physical-games-are-irrelevant-to-gamestops-business-says-ceo/)" physical games are to the company's overall business. It is true that software sales only make up 12% of GameStop's revenue, with collectibles (like Pokemon cards) accounting for 41.8% and hardware and accessories totaling nearly 40%. Gaming sales, new or used, are an ever-shrinking portion of GameStop's business, and there is data backing up just how little physical PlayStation 5 game sales(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/physical-ps5-game-sales-are-weaker-than-you-might-expect/) contribute to Sony's business. But the numbers haven't stopped hundreds of thousands of people from signing a petition(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/over-220000-people-petition-sony-not-to-kill-physical-playstation-game-discs/) urging Sony to change its mind and continue producing discs. The internet also had thoughts on Sony putting physical games in a coffin, with many lampooning how play apparently does have limits(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-disc-death-sends-the-internet-into-its-physical-media-defense-arc/). (This is a riff on Sony's common slogan: "Play has no limits.")
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformPlayStation Plus Subscribers Have 9 Games To Finish Before August Ends
PlayStation Plus has gotten several new games throughout the month, but as expected, several of them are also set to leave the subscription service's Game Catalog for Extra- and Premium-tier subscribers. In total, there'll be nine games exiting PS Plus on August 18, so you've only got a few weeks left to check out a fun zombie apocalypse adventure, a JRPG with an elegant hand-drawn art style, and one anime-inspired game that knows exactly who its target market is. Here's the full list: PlayStation Plus Game Catalog games leaving on August 18 - Bomber Crew (PS4) - Clash: Artifacts of Chaos (PS5, PS4) - Dead Island 2 (PS5, PS4) - Earth Defense Force 6 (PS5, PS4) - Harold Halibut (PS5) - Onee Chanbara Origin (PS4) - Roki (PS5) - Space Crew (PS4) - Unicorn Overlord (PS5, PS4) Dead Island 2(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dead-island-2-review-eat-the-rich/1900-6418055/) is the highest-profile exit for next month, and if you haven't checked it out yet, then you've missed out on a fun sequel. Stuck in development hell for several years, it eventually released on PC and consoles in 2023. Surprisingly goofy, extremely violent, and full of a surprising amount of character buildcrafting, it's a fun experience that has a great balance of action and survival. The other game you'll want to check out is Harold Halibut(https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/harold-halibut-review-lost-in-its-own-deep-sea/1900-6418211/), especially if you've been craving an old-school point-and-click adventure. Harold Halibut wears that influence on its sleeve, and it also looks incredible thanks to the years of work that went into crafting its unique characters and world. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GESXM0lVDp0 While those games won't be around for much longer, you can grab three games right now(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-plus-essential-free-games-for-july-2026/) if you're subscribed to any tier of PlayStation Plus--Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, For the King 2, and CrossCode. For members of PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium, the Game Catalog has already expanded(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstation-plus-extra-premium-games-for-july-2026-revealed/) with five games this month, including Rise of the Ronin, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, and Dying Light. Two more games are arriving on July 28--Sony now does weekly Game Catalog drops for US, UK, and Japanese subscribers--and Premium-tier subscribers can also download two PlayStation Classics next week in the form of Psi-Ops: The Mindgate Conspiracy and Indigo Prophecy. Next week will also see Sony reveal the next batch of free games for all PlayStation Plus subscribers in August, so don't forget to check in to see what they are ahead of their arrival on August 4. Best Open-World Games On PlayStation Plus Extra And Premium !4035357-fallout4.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4035357-fallout4.jpg?w=636) !4035366-assassin'screed4blackflag.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4035366-assassin'screed4blackflag.jpg?w=636) !4035364-assassin'screedvalhalla.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4035364-assassin'screedvalhalla.jpg?w=636) !4035363-assassin'screedtheeziocollection.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4035363-assassin'screedtheeziocollection.jpg?w=636) !4035361-bloodborne.png(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4035361-bloodborne.png?w=636) !4035360-thecrew2.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1601/16018044/4035360-thecrew2.jpg?w=636) !3576625-cyberpunk2077-punchit-en.jpg(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/original/1593/15930215/3576625-cyberpunk2077-punchit-en.jpg?w=636) View Images(https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/best-open-world-games-on-playstation-plus-extra-and-premium/2900-4329/)
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformDisgaea Creator Says Sony May As Well Scrap PlayStation Consoles If It’s Killing Game Discs
Sony's decision to stop producing PlayStation discs in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) has been a lightning rod for discussion across the globe, and Disgaea series creator Sohei Niikawa has weighed in, saying that the company might as well stop making PlayStation hardware as well. Speaking to Noisy Pixel(https://noisypixel.net/disgaea-creator-playstation-end-physical-games-hardware/) at Anime Expo 2026, Niikawa explained why he thinks physical editions of games are still so important, as he believes that they still create a connection between fans and developers. Not only that, but those games can become a sentimental keepsake for those who collect them, adding a personal layer of value, the former president of Nippon Ichi Software added. "They can also bring that physical game to an event like this and ask someone to sign it," Niikawa said. "Afterward, they can take it home, display it, and decorate their room with it. Physical games are important because they can carry that kind of meaning." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FatSqS3VYY While Niikawa said he understood the business reason for Sony shifting toward an all-digital future, he also explained that the decision was likely made by executives who "have probably never experienced" what it's like for a video game fan to approach a person with a physical game at an event and ask for an autograph. "I don't think they understand the feelings of those fans, and they may never have considered what physical editions mean to the people who value them," Niikawa said. "If they're going to go as far as eliminating physical packages, they may as well eliminate the hardware too. A television would be enough. Why would you need the console? If you're going to get rid of physical games, you may as well go all the way." Niikawa is likely referring to cloud gaming, an area that Xbox has made big strides in over the years. One of the big draws of Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming has expanded to TVs, smartphones, and even VR headsets, while Sony has made it a key part of its PlayStation Portal handheld, as you no longer need to own a PS5 to play games on it. In 2025, the company mentioned that it's banking on hardware power(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/for-ps6-sony-is-betting-on-hardware-power-not-the-cloud/1100-6532420/) for its next-gen hardware, saying that the "local execution" of games remains in high demand by its players. But with the cost of components(https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomcoughlin/2026/04/16/ssd-storage-capacity-prices-are-over-20-times-hdd-storage-capacity-prices/) becoming increasingly unaffordable thanks to AI investments eating up all the available supply(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/crimson-deserts-ai-scandal-should-bother-you-more/1100-6539362/), it's looking highly likely that the PS6 is going to be an expensive purchase(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonys-no-more-discs-debacle-was-inevitable-but-the-worst-is-yet-to-come/).
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformWhy 2026 Was The Year To Bring Onimusha Back After A 20-Year Gap With Way Of The Sword
!Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/15/02c3ec7f/380onimusha24.jpg.webp) Onimusha: Way of the Sword(https://gameinformer.com/Onimusha) is the latest game to grace the cover of Game Informer(https://gameinformer.com/cover-reveal/2026/07/16/cover-reveal-onimusha-way-of-the-sword), and while the game has made quite a splash in the samurai-action scene, it’s easy to forget this is the first entry in the series in 20 years. Yes, we received remasters of the first and second games in recent years(https://gameinformer.com/interview/2025/04/22/onimusha-2s-director-on-remastering-the-playstation-2-game-and-the-state-of), and Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams (the fourth mainline game) is coming to PlayStation Plus’ Classics lineup next month, but Way of the Sword is the first new entry in two decades. That’s why, when it was time to interview the game’s director, Satoru Nihei, and one of its producers, Akihito Kadowaki, at Capcom’s Osaka, Japan, HQ for this cover story, my first question was: Why is 2026 the time to bring back Onimusha? !Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/06/02/211dfbee/onimusha01.jpg.webp) I half-suspected it was an issue of sales, considering the series has only sold 9 million copies, a far cry from Resident Evil’s 200 million, Monster Hunter’s 127 million, and even Street Fighter’s 59 million. The other half of me assumed Capcom had simply forgotten about Onimusha – after the first game, Onimusha: Warlords (which, after recently playing the remaster on Steam, I can confidently say still absolutely rips), launched in 2001, we received three sequels in the following five years. And that was it: Onimusha disappeared as fast as it arrived. Kadowaki tells me, however, that Onimusha’s departure from the action space wasn’t for lack of trying. “Whilst Onimusha was always well-received, there were, at Capcom at the time, other major series like Monster Hunter, Resident Evil games, and Street Fighter, but there were also up-and-coming developing titles,” he says. “And as development became more difficult, needing more time and more people, with all those people focused on those titles, it was very difficult to get a team together to make a new Onimusha game, despite wanting to internally for a long time.” Kadowaki says he personally wanted to have a hand in bringing the series back as a longtime fan of Onimusha. It took the RE Engine coming to fruition and a soft reset in 2020 for Capcom, as the publisher-developer looked at scheduling out the new/now-current generation of hardware and the games it intended to make for it, for Onimusha’s return. The team has been working on Way of the Sword for six years, and Kadowaki tells me that while Capcom paid attention to the action space and to what players expect of it, the team worked hard to ensure Way of the Sword retained everything that makes an Onimusha game an Onimusha game. He also specifically asked Nihei to direct Way of the Sword, aware that Nihei loved the games as a teen and wanted to make his mark on the series. Much to Nihei’s surprise, his opportunity to make a mark on Onimusha also became his first time as a director. !Game Informer News(https://www.gameinformer.com/sites/default/files/styles/bodydefault/public/2026/07/15/28d3ca2e/380onimusha10.jpg.webp) When I ask Nihei where one even starts when making a new game in a series that’s been dormant for 20 years, he responds with one word: Issen. Present in every Onimusha game, the Issen is a powerful counterattack that players can perform by attacking just before an enemy attacks, often resulting in a critical hit. If you’re an Onimusha fan, it’s likely something you want to hear when it comes to this series’ return to the action space. “This was one of the critical parts of that satisfaction and the feel of the period action, and the Oni Gauntlet, the tactical elements of it in terms of soul absorption, kind of weighing when to use those abilities and when not to, and then also the elements of the historical ties to the real history of Japan,” Nihei says. “Obviously, the previous titles were set in the Sengoku period, so the Warring States period, but just mixing those historical elements with dark fantasy elements is the core of Onimusha.” This is just the first of many Onimusha: Way of the Sword articles I have planned for Game Informer’s month of coverage surrounding the game, and we’ll be publishing exclusive gameplay and behind-the-scenes videos (as well as a Rapid Fire Interview) on the Game Informer YouTube channel(https://www.youtube.com/@gameinformer) too. Keep the Onimusha: Way of the Sword coverage hub(https://gameinformer.com/Onimusha) bookmarked so you don’t miss any of it! In the meantime, here’s some additional Onimusha: Way of the Sword reading for you: - Onimusha: Way of the Sword Cover Reveal(https://gameinformer.com/cover-reveal/2026/07/16/cover-reveal-onimusha-way-of-the-sword) - Onimusha: Way of the Sword Digital Issue(https://gameinformer.com/Onimusha) - Onimusha: Way of the Sword Summer Game Fest Hands-On Preview(https://gameinformer.com/preview/2026/06/12/a-thrilling-boss-battle-makes-for-another-strong-showing) - Onimusha: Way of the Sword Hub(https://gameinformer.com/product/onimusha-way-of-the-sword) What do you want to know about Onimusha: Way of the Sword? Let me know in the comments below and I'll see what I can cook up for you!
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformPhysical PS5 Game Sales Are Weaker Than You Might Expect
In the wake of Sony announcing that it will end support for physical PlayStation game discs in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sonys-no-more-discs-debacle-was-inevitable-but-the-worst-is-yet-to-come/), new data has come to light that speaks to the growing decline in physical PlayStation game sales in the US. Mat Piscatella of Circana released new data recently(https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mr3tijrlts2w) that reveals that only two PlayStation games sold more than 10,000 physical units in the US for the week that ended on July 11, 2026. And only 7 have sold more than 100,000 physical units so far in 2026. Piscatella also remarked that people should use their voice to comment on how much they might not like Sony's decision to kill physical discs. "But commenting is cheap," he wrote(https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mr3tm3r5jk2w). A former community manager for MyDearest, Imran Khan, replied to Piscatella, saying that people may be wasting their breath by speaking out to challenge Sony's decision to end support for discs. "It doesn't filter up to decision-makers. Frankly, half your job is making sure it doesn't. There's no threshold of abuse or numbers where they have to send all of it in an Excel document to the CEO," Khan said(https://bsky.app/profile/imrankhan.bsky.social/post/3mr3tripi5s2s). Piscatella also re-shared data from May 2026 that showed spending on new physical games--across the entire industry--has been on a steady downward trajectory since 2009. https://bsky.app/profile/matpiscatella.bsky.social/post/3mr5my6cnrk2k Piscatella added: "The console manufacturers have all the data on sales and play that take place on their platforms globally in mind-boggling detail." "Yes, physical currently matters far more in some places than it does in others, and digital isn't a great an option in some places. The console mfgs know all that." The data has shown for years that physical game sales are declining at most major publishers(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/playstations-disc-based-game-sales-have-dropped-dramatically-in-recent-years/), so Sony's switch to an all-digital world is not surprising. It is unfortunate for those who want to see physical media continue, and hundreds of thousands of people signed a petition to encourage Sony to change its mind(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/over-220000-people-petition-sony-not-to-kill-physical-playstation-game-discs/). This petition and other efforts will not work, experts have said, because making more money and tightening control of marketplaces(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-sony-killing-discs-its-all-about-profitability-and-control-expert-says/?thumbnailid=1807886) are the main motivations here. The biggest game of 2026, GTA 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/grand-theft-auto-6-everything-we-know/1100-6503729/), will launch as a digital-exclusive game. People can buy a copy of GTA 6 at physical retailers, but they only get a code in the box(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-is-not-releasing-with-a-disc-and-that-just-makes-sense-in-2026/). Rockstar stands to make more money from GTA 6 and have greater control over it as a digital-exclusive game, so it's not hard to see why it opted for this, even if it will upset some people. While Sony has announced plans to stop supporting physical game discs/cartridges, Microsoft and Nintendo have not made any announcements about their own plans.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformThe PlayStation replica ornament is an homage to a great, yet fragile console
You probably know the signature PlayStation boot sound. Did you know that it's technically a multi-part chime? There's the synthy section where "Sony Computer Entertainment" shows onscreen with a white background. You only get to the next screen with the echo-y chimes and the color-filled PlayStation logo if your console recognizes the disc. How badly &8230;