Items tagged with (NYSE:SNE)
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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In late April, Microsoft’s Discord acquisition dreams were dashed after talks came to a screeching halt. Though any hopes of a buyout were gone, Discord was still looking for funding evidently, as it has now been announced the Sony and Discord are new partners. Perhaps this is a way to make Microsoft jealous, but it seems to be a solidly beneficial partnership, nonetheless. Back in 2015, Discord was created by founders Jason Citron and Stan Vishnevskiy, who sought a way to keep in touch with friends made over the internet. They believed they could make a better service that was not “slow, unreliable, and complex,” and thus Discord was born. Since then, gamers have taken it up...
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Given the difficulty in finding a PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X/S in stock, you have time to decide which one is the right game console for you. One of the factors that could play a role in that decision is what the exclusive game landscape looks like. Not every game gets released on every platform, and Sony's goal is to release more exclusive games on PS5 than any previous PlayStation console. As part of that effort, Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) CEO Jim Ryan said the company has been "steadily investing" in first-party software for the PS5, but has not been making a lot of noise about it. "We have been quietly but steadily investing in high-quality games for PlayStation, and we will...
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In late March, Sony announced its intention to shutter the online stores for several of its legacy gaming consoles; the PlayStation Portable, PlayStation 3, and PlayStation Vita. The consoles first launched in 2004, 2006, and 2011 respectively. At the time, Sony said that the PlayStation Store for the PS3 and PSP would close on July 2nd, while the PS Vita would see its access revoked starting on August 27th. We didn't think much of it at the time due to the age of the consoles -- especially the PSP -- but owners of those consoles were up in arms over Sony's decision and gave the company quite an earful. Sony is now reversing course, at least partially. The company admitted that "we made the wrong...
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For a lot of people, camera performance is of the utmost importance when it comes to choosing a smartphone. With that in mind, Sony today unveiled the Xperia 1 III (pronounced One Mark Three), a new flagship handset and the first phone in the world to boast a variable telephoto lens, paired with a dual PD sensor. Sony says it co-developed the handset with the engineers behind the Sony Alpha brand cameras. Base camera specificaions include an 8-megapixel lens on the front with an f/2.0 aperture, 78-degree field of view, and HDR support, while the backside of the phone houses a triple camera arrangement, each with a 12-megapixel Exmor RS sensor. These are equivalent to a 24mm wide-angle lens (f/1.7,...
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Epic Games is a massive company, but we already knew that between their battle against Apple and the ability to throw money to the wind with the Epic Games Store and free games. The behemoth gaming company is still chugging forward, though, with a new $1 billion round of funding and an equity valuation of $28.7 billion. This new round of funding, which was announced on Epic's website today, includes Sony Group Corporation, which invested $200 million. Besides Sony, there were also investments from "Appaloosa, Baillie Gifford, Fidelity Management & Research Company LLC, GIC, funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan Board, funds and accounts...
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It has been around five months since the PlayStation 5 came out, and for those who have been lucky enough to acquire one—the PS5 is in short supply, like the Xbox Series X/S and various PC hardware—Sony is now readying its first major system software update. With it comes expanded storage compatibility. More specifically, the update enables storing PS5 games on external USB drives, essentially giving players a way to expand their console's built-in storage allotment. After applying the update, PS5 owners will be able to transfer games from the console's internal solid state drive (SSD) over to an external storage device, or the other way around. Sony also notes that is faster to reinstall...
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Many people didn't know what to think of Xbox Game Pass when it initially launched for the Xbox One back in 2017, but it has grown to become a formidable and "sticky" feature for Microsoft's game consoles. For $9.99 per month (or $14.99 per month with Xbox Live Gold included), you get access to an ever-expanding library of 100+ games that can be played on your console or even streamed to your Android device. On the other hand, Sony has PlayStation Now and gives gamers access to over 700 video games streamable to your PlayStation console or PC. However, new PlayStation games don't launch on the service; you're reliant on your internet connection for the best streaming experience (since not all...
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On-demand games are becoming one of the best ways to enjoy various titles without having to buy them. PlayStation Now is a solid service for PlayStation users to trial some new games or replay some old ones. This week, Sony is adding three games to the platform to make it that much more enticing, and you can start playing right now. Marvel’s Avengers The first game added to the docket is Marvel’s Avengers, an “epic, third-person, action-adventure game that combines an original, cinematic story with single-player and co-operative gameplay.” The game surrounds a future where Super Heroes are outlawed (not unlike The Incredibles), and Kamala Khan must reassemble the Avengers...
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Tomorrow starts a new month, which means that there will be a new crop of freebie games to download for PlayStation Plus subscribers. Although it will be April 1st, there is no fooling around when it comes to what Sony has in store for gamers. Kicking things off this month on the free list is Oddworld: Soulstorm. Interestingly, while the game will be playable on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 consoles, only the PlayStation 5 version is free during April. So, if you're one of the lucky few that has been able to secure the next-gen console, enjoy it while it lasts. Oddworld: Soulstorm is a direct successor to Oddworld: New 'N' Tasty, released in 2014. The actual series dates back to 1997 with...
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As much as we sometimes want them to, nothing lasts forever. Big Bang Theory, Breaking Bad, and The Office? They all came and went. Toys R Us as we used to know it? Pour one out. And your favorite pair of socks with an increasingly bigger hole in the heel? Eventually you'll have to toss them in the garbage. In just a few months, we can add PlayStation Store access for various Sony consoles to the mix well. You will still be access the PlayStation Store to download games and apps onto your PlayStation 5 and/or PlayStation 4 consoles for a long time to come. But for owners of the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable, the PlayStation Store will soon be locking them out forever,...
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Do you own a PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5 console? If so, then heads up that Sony has unlocked a whole bunch of games you can add to your library at no cost. Heck, even if you don't own one of the aforementioned game systems, it would be worth adding these games while you can, in case you ever do buy a PlayStation 4/5. All you need is a PlayStation account, which you can create for free. Once you have one, you can head to the PlayStation Store and claim the games Sony is gifting as part of its Play at Home initiative, which is meant to encourage users to stay inside during the pandemic. There are nine games in total, or 10 if you count Ratchet & Clank, which is still free for a few more...
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In late February, Sony teased the next generation of PlayStation VR for the PlayStation 5 and a new controller. The new controllers' goal was to create a “future-proof technology” that was both ergonomic and improved the user experience. In a blog post posted today, Sony shows off the new controllers, and they certainly look impressive. Sony Senior Vice President Hideaki Nishino indicated that “the new controller that will play a critical role in providing gamers with the VR experience [Sony is] working to deliver.” Previously, the PSVR controller was a stick-style controller, which was similar in ways to a Wiimote. Now, that style has been thrown out of the window in...
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Sony is getting in the groove of giving games away to PlayStation owners, and we could not be happier about it. Last month, for example, it gifted Ratchet & Clank to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 owners (there's still time to claim your copy, more on that in a moment). And later this spring, it will be handing out digital copies of Horizon Zero Dawn (shown above), in between which there are nine other games up for grabs. If you have not done so already, we suggest heading to the PlayStation Store, logging into your account, and grabbing Ratchet & Clank while you still can. It is completely free—no subscription to PlayStation Plus is necessary. However, time is running out to claim...
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A week ago, we brought you news from an incredibly reliable tipster that the PlayStation 5 would be in stock on Thursday morning. And sure enough, Target had a significant amount of PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 5 Digital Edition consoles that were available for in-store pickup if you were lucky. That same tipster, Jake Randall, has now confirmed when the next significant PlayStation 5 drop will occur. Randall teased the Amazon drop last week, and today he affirms that it will happen this Thursday (March 18th). The online retail giant will have a total of 46,000 consoles available to purchase, split between 18,000 PlayStation 5 Digital Edition and 28,000 PlayStation 5 consoles. Randall...
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Last year, the Sony's WH-1000XM4 wireless headphones leaked early, and then officially launched with solid features that put them ahead of the pack in a lot of areas. Now, Amazon is offering up these headphones for sale at 21% off, bringing them down to a relatively palatable $278.00 price point. Though that may still seem like a bit of coin for headphones, what you get out of these may be more than worth it in the long run. Sony's WH-1000XM4 headphones took some design cues from its predecessor, but they have some rather nice new features. First up is what Sony calls “Industry-leading noise canceling with Dual Noise Sensor technology.” These headphones use two microphones on...
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If you've been trying to score a PlayStation 5 since launch but have struck out at every possible opportunity, we've got some good news for you. It appears that Target is getting ready for a big console drop this later this week, so you're going to want to be on your toes in the early morning hours. According to console tracker Jake Randall, Target stores nationwide are starting to receive inventory for both the standard PlayStation 5 and the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. For those that don't know, Randall has been on the money in recent weeks (and months) with PlayStation 5 availability, specifically from Target. So, when he says he has inside info, we listen. Randall notes that based on the...
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Last week, Sony teased the next generation of PlayStation VR with DualSense technology, which got many gamers excited. As that new headset and technology is still on the horizon, current PSVR gamers want new games to play with their current hardware. Today, Sony brought back the PSVR Spotlight to announce six new games launching later this year. After The Fall From the creators of Arizona Sunshine comes a new fast-paced co-op FPS game called After the Fall. This game takes players back to an alternate frozen reality in 1980s LA to “pit you and your friends against a post-apocalyptic VR world in a raging fight for survival.” In the coming weeks, we can expect to see an all-new gameplay...
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Sony's PlayStation 5 launched back in mid-November with two configurations: the standard PlayStation 5 with a Blu-ray drive and the disc-less PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. No matter which you select, you'll get an 825GB SSD with just 667GB leftover for your games and other data you wish to store. Some people saw this as a liability compared to the Xbox Series X, which comes with a slightly larger 1TB SSD (802GB useable), but Sony has one critical advantage. The PlayStation 5 can expand its storage via an open M.2 slot inside the console, and better yet, it can use a garden variety PCIe 4.0 SSD. However, Sony didn't enable this functionality at launch and has been mum about the timeline for allowing...
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How big will Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, it's Warzone spin-off, and Call of Duty: Black Ops Cold War ultimately get before all is said and done? Even Activision may not have a definitive answer to that question. However, the publisher did warn that the latest update could prove too bulky for some base model PlayStation 4 console owners, who may have to delete some content to make room. Activision has begun pushing out the Season Two update, and like previous ones, it requires a lot of storage space. So much, in fact, that Activision issued a warning to PS4 owners. "Those who own a standard PlayStation 4 with a default hard drive of 500GB may need to make room if they have the full versions...
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While it was never going to a launch title for the PlayStation 5, development studio Polyphony Digital had every intention of wrapping up work on Gran Turismo 7 this year for a 2021 release by publisher Sony Interactive Entertainment. That is no longer going to happen. Covid-19 has thrown a wrench into those plans, causing the highly anticipated game to be delayed until sometime next year. The latest installment in the popular racing simulation series was formally introduced last year during the PS5 reveal event. A launch video showcased the game'ss high resolution graphics with real-time ray tracing effects, and even teased onlookers with some footage of actual gameplay on the PS5. If you missed...
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The past year has been a difficult one, and in an effort to encourage people to stay inside during the pandemic, Sony in 2020 launched its Play at Home initiative, giving PlayStation 4 owners a pair of free games: Uncharted The Nathan Drake Collection and Journey. Now for 2021, Sony is reviving its Play at Home program with another free title, Ratchet & Clank (rebooted for PS4) by Insomniac Games. "In these historic times, the team at PlayStation wanted to thank the community by giving something back. These days, we could all use something to look forward to and another reason to stay safely socially distanced, so we are happy to be able to offer a free selection of great games and some entertainment...
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