Items tagged with (NYSE:SNE)
In June, we heard reports that Sony is targeting a late 2022 launch for its next-generation PlayStation VR (PSVR) headset. This alleged PSVR 2 will use two OLED displays -- one for each eye -- manufactured by display leader Samsung. Now, a new report is shedding some additional light on this high-end, next-generation accessory for the PlayStation 5. According to PSVR Without Parole, the displays will be HDR-capable and have a field of view (FOV) of 110 degrees. For comparison, the original PSVR has a FOV of 100 degrees. In addition, the PSVR 2 will have an effective resolution of 4000x2040 or 2000x2040 per eye with the Fresnel OLED displays. This is well beyond the 960x1080 (per eyes) resolution...
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If you were able to get into Sony's beta software program for the PlayStation 5, you can now install your own SSD to expand storage. The PlayStation 5, by default, comes with an 825GB SSD installed, but that can fill up quickly when installing loads of AAA games. Requirements To Add A PCIe 4.0 SSD To A PlayStation 5 First and foremost, you'll need a reasonably fast PCIe 4.0 M.2 NVMe SSD to get started; Sony requires minimum sequential read speeds of 5,500 MB/sec. It should also be noted that Sony requires that you install a heatsink on the SSD -- if one isn't already installed -- to ensure that it doesn't overheat within the PlayStation 5's chassis. Remember that the heatsink cannot exceed...
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There might be a console shortage, but even so, Sony says it is on track to sell more PlayStation 5 systems during its fiscal year ending March 2022, than it did PlayStation 4 consoles during its first fiscal year of availability. More precisely, Sony CFO Hiroki Totoki assured investors that managed to obtain enough semiconductors to hit its target of more than 14.8 million PS5 unit sales by March 2022. Sony is already off to a fast start. The PS5 launched during the pandemic and quickly notched 2.3 million unit sales during the first quarter of Sony's current fiscal year. Since then, the number has grown to 10.1 million unit sales, making it Sony's fastest-selling console ever. When announcing...
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We want two #1 meals, both with Coke and a PlayStation 5 controller. And let's not ask for permission from Sony first, please. McDonald's Australia is celebrating its 50th anniversary down under with three months of events that recently hit a speed bump. In June, Maccas (short for McDonald's in Australia) announced in a press release that it had hit its 50th anniversary after arriving in 1971. With over 1.1 billion Big Macs sold and great growth, the company wanted to thank Aussie customers by "throwing its biggest celebration yet, launching a new range of never-before-seen promotions, menu items and unique collaborations from June until the end of August." Initially, one of these events was...
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Late last week, Sony released long-awaited beta software that allows PlayStation 5 gamers to take advantage of the empty M.2 slot in their consoles to expand storage with an off-the-shelf PCI 4.0 SSD. The PlayStation 5 comes standard with a non-replaceable 825GB SSD, but it can quickly fill up with games, making further expansion a necessity as more high-profile games come to market. Now that more PlayStation 5 users are installing the beta software, they're sharing their experience on how performance is shaping up compared to the default SSD. One such user is Redditor DanCTapirson, who decided to test Samsung's impressive 980 Pro PCIe 4.0 SSD. The 980 Pro is rated for up to 7,000 MB/sec sequential...
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One of the best features of Sony's PlayStation 5 is the ability to upgrade the console's internal storage via an empty M.2 PCIe 4.0 slot. Unlike the Xbox Series X, which uses a proprietary port for expanding storage, the PlayStation 5 can use off-the-shelf SSDs if they meet Sony's minimum performance requirements. The only problem up until today is that Sony hadn't yet enabled the feature. But now, there's a new beta BIOS available to customers, which allows them to plug in their own SSDs to expand beyond the standard 825GB SSD that comes with the console. To gain access to PlayStation 5 System Software Beta, we suggest that you check out this previous article. Once you are enrolled, you'll want...
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The current generation console race kicked off back in November 2020 with the launch of the PlayStation 5/PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series X/Xbox Series S. The PlayStation 5 jumped out to an early lead, and Sony today confirmed that the console has racked up 10 million sales since launch. That's an impressive feat for Sony, and makes the PlayStation 5 its the fastest-selling console in history, outpacing even its overachieving PlayStation 4 predecessor. What's more shocking is that Sony was able to achieve this even though the consoles are supply-constrained. As a result, demand for the console remains incredibly strong, with quick sellouts whenever they are available online or in-store....
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Sony today announced a new promotion that gives PlayStation 5 owners six months free of the Apple TV+ streaming service. Apple is really pushing its service and expanding its availability to more platforms as it seeks to compete with popular entrenched players like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, and Disney+. If you currently own a PlayStation 5, you have from now until July 22nd, 2022 to redeem the Sony offer. The trial lasts for six months, after which the plan renews at the cost of $4.99 per month (until you decide to cancel it). Unlike typical offers, this "extended trial" is also available for those currently taking part in a free trial for Apple TV+. In that case, this new offer will tack...
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Could you imagine finally getting your hands on one of the hottest selling consoles that is incredibly difficult to find in stock, only for the manufacturer to release a revised version shortly after? That would stink for sure. It also just happened, with a revised version of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition popping up online. Good news though—if you already purchased a PS5, there's no need to have buyer's remorse. It looks like there are only minor changes to the new CFI-1100B01 model. For one, Sony managed to make it lighter by around 300 grams (~0.66 pounds). Given how difficult it is to procure a PlayStation 5 of any kind, it is conceivable that some lucky owners might lug it around...
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Earlier this week, we learned that Netflix is planning to take on Microsoft xCloud, Amazon Luna, and Google Stadia with a game streaming service of its own. According to a credible report, Netflix plans to launch the service in 2022, and it would be available at no additional cost to subscribers (although last tidbit sounds a little hard to believe). Netflix added veteran gaming exec Mike Verdu from Electronic Art to its roster to advance its game streaming efforts. Today, we’re learning more about the service, thanks to some incredible datamining by Steve Moser. Moser dug into the source code for the Netflix app and found some clues for the upcoming gaming service, including artwork for...
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Without a doubt, this has been one of the worst years for gamers, in terms of being able to buy hardware. It doesn't matter if you're a PC gamer or a console gamer, the hardware for your platform of choice has been affected by a silicon shortage, scalpers, and other factors. As it pertains to the console side, the Xbox Series X/S and PlayStation 5 have been tremendously difficult to find in stock, and now the same is true of last-gen systems. Don't believe it? Head over to Best Buy and search for an Xbox One, Xbox One S, Xbox One X, PlayStation 4, or PlayStation 4 Pro. Here is a sample of what you will see... Once you have struck out, head over to Walmart and look up the same consoles. You will...
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In early June, Xbox chief Phil Spencer sneered at Sony over its PlayStation to PC porting strategy, explaining that “Others [Sony] bring console games to PC years later, not only making people buy their hardware upfront but then charging them a second time to play on PC.” It seems that Sony is working on this problem, however, as the company is bringing Nixxes Software into the fold. Announced today, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has completed the acquisition of Nixxes Software, “an industry-leading Dutch studio with more than 20 years of experience in game development and optimization.” Effective immediately, the company will be a part of PlayStation Studios Technology,...
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If you're one of the lucky gamers out there with a PlayStation 5 hooked up to your big-screen TV, we've got even more good news for you. Sony just announced that it would launch its first-ever beta program for PlayStation 5 software updates. Microsoft has long offered its Xbox Insider Program for console gamers, so we're surprised that it took Sony this long to jump on the bandwagon. Such programs give gamers early access to upcoming software features and companies like Microsoft and Sony a larger pool of "test subjects" to pinpoint potential bugs and incompatibilities. According to Sony, PlayStation 5 gamers selected for the beta can "test new console features before the next major system update...
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The Cyberpunk 2077 launch for PC and consoles left much to be desired after many bugs and glitches ruined the play experiences. However, the company behind the game, CD Projekt Red, has been working hard to recover from the nightmare, and it seems things are now going in its favor. Cyberpunk 2077, which was once removed from the PlayStation store, has seemingly reappeared in what could be a return to grace. On December 17th, Sony decided to pull the plug on Cyberpunk 2077 after game-breaking bugs hampered the initial launch. It is now six months later, and we are several patches deep, like Patch 1.2, which fixed several problems but brought in new ones. Regardless of the new issues, it was thought...
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For some time, the International Olympic Committee has been considering adding esports games to its portfolio of games played during the Olympics. Now, esports has finally made it as the first-ever qualifier for the “Olympic Virtual Series Motor Sport Event” is complete, and 16 players will be virtually racing on Olympic Day, June 23rd. In April, the Olympic Virtual Series is a new endeavor from the IOC in partnership with “five international sports federations and corresponding games publishers to create virtual events in Baseball, Cycling, Rowing, Sailing, and Motor Sport.” The motorsport portion of the virtual events series is run by the Fédération Internationale...
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The PlayStation 5 has barely been on the market for six months, but Sony is already projecting a considerable milestone for its hot-selling game console. The company shared a presentation with investors this week in which it talked about the sales performance of the PlayStation 5 compared to its predecessor, among other things. However, the most exciting revelation is that Sony forecasts that the standard edition of the PlayStation (the $499 version with a Blu-ray drive) will reach the break-even point next month. That's an incredibly short time on the market for Sony to break even with such a high-performance console. The PlayStation 5 packs in an AMD Zen 2/RDNA 2 APU, 16GB of GDDR6 memory,...
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Sony is selling PlayStation 5 consoles faster than it can manufacturer them, which is a combination of rabid demand (truly next-gen game systems don't come out super often) and a global shortage of silicon. But as successful as the PS5 has been so far, it is not Sony's sole focus. It plans on bolstering its presence in the mobile gaming sector, and is hoping to significantly grow its PlayStation Now service. As part of its strategy to grow different segments, Sony said it plans to spend 2 trillion Japanese yen (equivalent to nearly $18.4 billion in US currency) over the next three years on strategic investments. A major part of the goal is to massive increase the number of customers connected...
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During the pandemic, many people have had nothing better to do than play video games in their downtime, and the market is showing that trend. Console sales are up tremendously, and even though there has been a lasting chip shortage affecting production for all brands, the Nintendo Switch is outpacing both the PlayStation 5 family and the Xbox Series X|S. For Q1 2021, Ampere Analysis reports that Nintendo Switch’s sell-through volume has hit 5.86 million units which is up roughly 12% compared to this time last year. However, this momentum may stagnate when Q2 comes around. This is because of how sales were affected during the pandemic and the massive launch of Animal Crossing: New Horizons,...
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Sony introduced its WF-1000XM3 wireless headphones in 2019, which were praised for their audio performance and noise cancellation abilities. Now that we're coming up on the second anniversary of its launch, Sony is on the verge of releasing its successor: the WF-1000XM4. Thankfully for us, serial leaker Evan Blass posted what appears to be official press renders of the WF-1000XM4 wireless earbuds. Compared to the XM3's, the XM4's have a completely new design. Whereas the previous generation featured an oblong, pill-shed design for the earbuds, the XM4's have a more circular shape. It also appears that the charging case is also a bit smaller due to the reduced dimension of the earbuds. The leak...
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Back in February, Sony shared the first details of its next-generation virtual reality system that is headed to the PlayStation 5, but stopped far short of serving up any juicy nuggets. Sony said the next-gen model will enhance the resolution, tracking, and input, and connect with a single cable. Fast forward to today and some interesting details have emerged from the rumor mill. As the PSVR 2 gets closer to launch, Sony has reportedly shared a few specifics with its partners. It is said the PSVR 2 will get a resolution upgrade to 4000x2040 pixels, or 2000x2040 per eyeball. That would give it one of the highest resolutions among consumer VR headsets. Here's how it compares to some other models......
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Here we are six months after the initial launch of Sony's PlayStation 5, and there's still no relief in sight for supply woes. The consoles have been a mega-hit with gamers and are instant sellouts whenever stock is available at online retailers. This demand has driven up the prices of the consoles on third-party marketplaces. For those hopeful that Sony would get a firm grasp on supply issues leading into the second half of 2021, we have some disappointing news for you. In guidance to analysts, Sony confirmed that the PlayStation 5 would be in short supply for the remainder of 2021 and possibly even through 2022. "I don't think demand is calming down this year, and even if we secure a lot more...
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The PlayStation 5, like previous generations before it, has been a runaway sales success for Sony. The console launched to good overall reviews, and gamers have been very eager to get their hands on the console to unwind during COVID-19 lockdowns. A perfect storm of chip shortages and incredible demand means that even six months after the console's launch, the consoles are still hard to find through retail channels and regularly sell for hundreds over MSRP on third-party marketplaces. However, Sony is reportedly well along in the development of future iterations of the PlayStation 5. The current console uses a custom AMD SoC that combines a Ryzen 3000-class, 8-core/16-thread CPU with a Radeon...
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