Latest news with #PlayStation4
Metro
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
Video game exclusives are dying as PlayStation plans new Xbox and Switch ports
As rumours claim Gears Of War: E-Day is coming to PS5, and Sony confirms more multiformat releases, the era of video game exclusives appears to be coming to an end. For 40 years the primary selling point for video game consoles has been the exclusive games that they play host to. As Xbox has acknowledged, things changed during the previous generation, when digital downloads began to dominate and switching formats no longer became a trivial matter. Nobody wants to leave behind their library of games on another console and while the PlayStation 4 still had plenty of high-profile exclusives, by the time the PlayStation 5 arrived fans were already locked into the PlayStation ecosystem. Given the increasing cost of making games, exclusives must've begun to seem like an expensive and unnecessary indulgence to Sony execs. But now it seems they're taking things a step further, with plans to release more of their internally developed games on other formats. One of the most frustrating aspects of Sony's change in approach is that they've never explained anything publicly. The above is all speculation and while it's almost certainly accurate, Sony has never acknowledged a change in plans or discussed why they've released so few exclusives in the second half of this generation – or why they're so obsessed with live service titles. That too can easily be guessed at, but it seems their plans are shifting even further, with a recently discovered job ad asking for someone to 'play a critical leadership role in shaping and executing the global commercial strategy for PlayStation Studios software titles across all digital platforms beyond PlayStation hardware, including Steam, Epic Games Store, Xbox, Nintendo, and mobile.' As the ad puts it: 'This role is accountable for optimising title profitability, ensuring cross-functional alignment, and leading a high-performing team focused on multiplatform expansion, mid-range commercial planning, and platform partner management.' Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning. Naturally, no examples are given but while it's still unlikely that recent PlayStation 5 exclusives will appear on other formats, other than the PC, Sony has recently ramped up its multiformat efforts with the release of former PSP exclusive Patapon on Nintendo Switch and the promise of Everybody's Golf to follow. Clearly these are very low-profile franchises, but while they and last year's Lego Horizon Adventures purposefully skipped the Xbox, live service games Helldivers 2 is coming to Xbox Series X/S next month. There's no suggestion that this new role will mean God Of War or The Last Of Us turning up on Xbox overnight, or indeed ever, but the older some exclusives get the more likely it becomes, at least on Nintendo formats – which Sony has long insisted are not direct rivals. For now, the newly advertised role is still likely to focus on older games and live service titles but even that would have been unthinkable even just five years ago, at the beginning of the generation. As far as Nintendo is concerned, exclusives are their life blood and it is certainly impossible to imagine any of their games appearing on other formats, but for Sony exclusives are an increasingly minor consideration, that are no longer profitable enough when released on only one format. This is a truth that Xbox has already realised, especially given how poor Xbox Series X/S hardware sales have been compared to the PlayStation 5. More Trending Microsoft hasn't been very open about their plans either, but it already seems clear there's nothing that won't eventually be released on PlayStation 5. So it's no surprise to find that just as the Sony job ad appears there's rumours of Gears Of War: E-Day and State Of Decay 3 also coming to Sony's format. Website MP1st has found résumés and job ads that seem to confirm both games being multiformat, although whether there'd be a short delay after the initial Xbox and PC release, as there was with Indiana Jones And The Great Circle, is unknown. There were many ways to cope with the increasing cost of making triple-A games but, perhaps predictably, Microsoft and Sony have made no attempt to decrease budgets and have instead sought to increase their revenues by increasing the number of places their games can be bought and played. That's not necessarily a bad thing but there's not yet any sign that Sony will start making more exclusives, whether they're multiformat or not. If that had been the case then most fans would likely welcome Sony's new approach with open arms. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Elden Ring Nightreign's most requested game mode is coming next week MORE: The Witcher dev CD Projekt's new game revealed in oddly descriptive job listing MORE: Xbox games for Switch 2 'expected' soon ahead of rumoured Nintendo Direct
Tom's Guide
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tom's Guide
As a PS5 owner, I never thought I'd be jealous of Xbox — and it's all because of this controller
A long, long time ago, before I bought my PlayStation 4 (and eventually my PlayStation 5 Slim), I was an Xbox girlie. I know, shocker because I absolutely adore my Sony console — it's the best purchase I've ever made. But the one thing I miss about Microsoft's consoles? The asymmetrical ABXY controllers. I love the DualSense and its haptic feedback, but sometimes I wish it had asymmetrical thumbsticks because, to me, they feel more ergonomic and comfortable. Well, good news is that I still get to use third-party Xbox/PC gamepads for work, and I fear this one controller has ruined every other for me. I wasn't expecting to love the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave this much, and now that I've reviewed it, I can't stop thinking about it. Sporting a lovely, colorful design with 8-zone RGB lighting, the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave is a funky gamepad for Xbox and Windows. Its Hall Effect triggers are extremely responsive, coming in clutch in many games. Powerful rumble makes games feel more immersive while user-friendly companion software enables easy customization. This is an excellent budget option for those who don't want to spend loads on first-party controllers. So what is it about the Afterglow Wave that has me so envious of Xbox owners, a sentence I never thought I'd say? I'm aware that there are third-party PS5 controllers out there, but I want this one. It looks stunning, its performance is even better, and the fact that I can't have it makes it even more tempting. I love minimalism. I love keeping things simple, which is why I adore the PS5 DualSense. There's something irresistible (and premium) about its black and white color scheme. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't also enjoy a bit of RGB lighting — as long as it's done tastefully. That's just what the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave does. It's equipped with 8-zone RGB lighting that's fully customizable — and boy does it look good! You can adjust its intensity and patterns via the Turtle Beach PD Control Hub but I kept it at the default Wave setting with RGB turned up to 100%. I loved using this gamepad in the dark as I could admire the RGB lighting in all its glory. I like that the thumbsticks light up too. It's something I never paid much mind to but now that I've tested a controller with this feature, I want every gamepad to have it. The thing I love most about the PS5 DualSense controller is the extremely precise haptic feedback that immerses you in most titles. I wouldn't change it for the world, so it's only natural that I'm attracted to gamepads that boast powerful vibration and rumble, like the Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave. The Afterglow Wave's rumble is powerful and intense. In fact, at its highest settings, it's so powerful that the vibrations could be felt across a bank of six desks, and this earned me curious looks from my coworkers. I think it's great, especially in racing games where you can feel the vibrations getting more and more intense as you shift gears or accelerate. I enjoyed it in games like Shadow of the Tomb Raider too, where Lara Croft would chip at a wall of loose bricks with her pickaxe and the rumble would get more powerful with each blow. I've tested a lot of gaming keyboards with Hall Effect sensors and gamepads with Hall Effect or TMR thumbsticks and triggers and every time I finish reviewing one, I wish my PS5 DualSense had them too. That's because HE triggers give you more precise control over your movements, enabling pin-point aiming or drifting (depending on the title you're playing). The Turtle Beach Afterglow Wave takes things a step further by introducing 3-stop adjustment. Each trigger has a dedicated switch to toggle different trigger points, so you can enable hair trigger, for instance, which turns the mechanism into a short, clicky press — great for aiming and shooting instantaneously in FPS titles. It's a game-changer and something that once you've tried, you can't live without. Like I said, I wouldn't give up my PS5 DualSense as you'd have to pry it out of my cold hands, but even I can't deny the Afterglow Wave's charms. With its stunning looks and even better performance, it has won me over. If Turtle Beach were to ever make a licensed PS5 controller along the same lines, you know I'll be the first in line to get it.
Express Tribune
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Nintendo Switch 2 becomes fastest-selling US console surpassing PlayStation 4 record
The Nintendo Switch 2 has become the fastest-selling gaming console in the United States, surpassing the record previously held by the PlayStation 4 for twelve years. Reports indicated that the Switch 2 sold over 3.5 million units worldwide in its first four days. Data from analytics firm Circana confirmed that 1.6 million units were sold in the United States during June, placing it ahead of the PS4's previous record of 1.1 million units sold in November 2013. Circana reported that the Switch 2's launch contributed to the highest June on record for video game hardware sales in the United States, generating $978 million USD. This launch performance reflects the high demand and consumer interest leading up to the Switch 2's release. Additionally, Mario Kart World was the third-best-selling game of the month. Circana noted that this ranking does not include copies bundled with the console, meaning bundle sales were not counted in its chart position. Mat Piscatella, Executive Director at Circana, stated that 82% of US Switch 2 owners also own a copy of Mario Kart World. With the release of Donkey Kong Bananza on July 17, the Nintendo Switch 2 continues to maintain strong momentum in the market.
The Star
24-07-2025
- Business
- The Star
Nintendo Switch 2 sets record as fastest-selling console in US
The Japanese company sold 1.6 million units of its US$450 console in the US in June, the highest launch month for any console in the country, according to market tracker Circana. — AFP Nintendo Co's new Switch 2 console sustained its blistering start to sales globally by setting a new record for the fastest-selling video game device in US history. The Japanese company sold 1.6 million units of its US$450 console in the US in June, the highest launch month for any console in the country, according to market tracker Circana. The previous high was 1.1 million units for Sony Group Corp's PlayStation 4 in 2013. The Switch 2 performance helped more than triple overall game hardware spending, Circana said. Americans spent US$978mil on new devices and accessories, from all brands, setting an all-time high for June in a year that saw otherwise declining spending. The new device, of existential importance to Nintendo and its family of game franchises, has been an instant hit with users in its most important markets. At home in Japan, the Switch 2 has also become the fastest-selling console ever, according to the latest Famitsu retail data. Still, Mat Piscatella, executive director at Circana, sounded a note of caution for Nintendo's long-term prospects. "Launch buyers of any new video game product will be, by nature, the most enthusiastic and least price sensitive,' he wrote in an online post. "Have to wait until holiday at the earliest before getting a better read on how pricing will work with the more mass market buyer.' Nintendo's bet on a single hardware platform with the original Switch – combining its mobile and home consoles into one – added pressure on the company to get both hardware and software right. It responded by delivering a string of hits that sustained the Switch's popularity, and it's off to a strong start with the Switch 2 as well. Its July 17 release of Donkey Kong Bananza was greeted by positive critical reviews and looks set to power further sales deep into the summer. – Bloomberg
Yahoo
23-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nintendo Switch 2 Sets Record as Fastest-Selling Console in US
(Bloomberg) -- Nintendo Co.'s new Switch 2 console sustained its blistering start to sales globally by setting a new record for the fastest-selling video game device in US history. Trump Awards $1.26 Billion Contract to Build Biggest Immigrant Detention Center in US Why the Federal Reserve's Building Renovation Costs $2.5 Billion Salt Lake City Turns Winter Olympic Bid Into Statewide Bond Boom Milan Corruption Probe Casts Shadow Over Property Boom How San Jose's Mayor Is Working to Build an AI Capital The Japanese company sold 1.6 million units of its $450 console in the US in June, the highest launch month for any console in the country, according to market tracker Circana. The previous high was 1.1 million units for Sony Group Corp.'s PlayStation 4 in 2013. The Switch 2 performance helped more than triple overall game hardware spending, Circana said. Americans spent $978 million on new devices and accessories, from all brands, setting an all-time high for June in a year that saw otherwise declining spending. The new device, of existential importance to Nintendo and its family of game franchises, has been an instant hit with users in its most important markets. At home in Japan, the Switch 2 has also become the fastest-selling console ever, according to the latest Famitsu retail data. Still, Mat Piscatella, executive director at Circana, sounded a note of caution for Nintendo's long-term prospects. 'Launch buyers of any new video game product will be, by nature, the most enthusiastic and least price sensitive,' he wrote in an online post. 'Have to wait until holiday at the earliest before getting a better read on how pricing will work with the more mass market buyer.' Nintendo's bet on a single hardware platform with the original Switch — combining its mobile and home consoles into one — added pressure on the company to get both hardware and software right. It responded by delivering a string of hits that sustained the Switch's popularity, and it's off to a strong start with the Switch 2 as well. Its July 17 release of Donkey Kong Bananza was greeted by positive critical reviews and looks set to power further sales deep into the summer. Elon Musk's Empire Is Creaking Under the Strain of Elon Musk Burning Man Is Burning Through Cash A Rebel Army Is Building a Rare-Earth Empire on China's Border Thailand's Changing Cannabis Rules Leave Farmers in a Tough Spot How Starbucks' CEO Plans to Tame the Rush-Hour Free-for-All ©2025 Bloomberg L.P. Sign in to access your portfolio
