Sony News.

PS5 players must have a Microsoft account and Xbox Gamertag to play Halo: Campaign Evolved, enabling cross-platform play and progression. Split-screen co-op on PS5 additionally requires a PlayStation Plus subscription linked to a Microsoft account. The game launches July 28.

Sony filed a patent for a PSN login method using the DualSense controller to verify user proximity. The PS5 sends a sign-in request, the controller scans for nearby devices via Bluetooth or NFC, and confirms account holder presence before credentials are submitted. The system requires a functional DualSense and could lock out users if the controller is lost or damaged.

A $7.85 million settlement is preliminarily approved for 4.4 million US PlayStation owners. It resolves claims that Sony monopolized digital game sales by removing third-party code sales from April 1 2019. The case, Caccuri v. Sony Interactive Entertainment, alleges violations of the Sherman and Clayton Acts. Final hearing scheduled for October 15. Sony denies wrongdoing.

Activision confirmed that Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 re-releases on PS4 and PS5 are ports, not remasters. Iron Galaxy is handling the ports, which arrive in July with campaign, Zombies, and multiplayer. Players should not expect native PS5 features like 120Hz support.

Sony removes mention of PC releases from 2026 PlayStation report. The company outlines AI use to boost studio productivity, personalise store recommendations, and improve visual fidelity. PC exclusivity for first-party games is confirmed, citing poor sales and brand risk.

PlayStation changed its strategy to limit first-party single-player narrative games to PlayStation consoles only. CEO Hermen Hulst stated in a town hall that PC releases didn't generate sufficient revenue and diluted IP alignment. The move reflects a focus on maximizing platform-specific experience for in-house single-player titles.

AI demand is driving up prices for Nintendo and Sony products, turning them into accidental luxury goods. The trend reflects how semiconductor shortages and AI chip competition affect consumer electronics.

AI demand is driving up prices for Nintendo and Sony products, making them accidental luxury goods. The Financial Times reports that scarcity and high demand for gaming hardware are pushing costs higher. This trend positions these items as premium purchases rather than standard consumer electronics.

Sony removed a line about deploying first-party titles to PC from its 2026 annual SEC filing. The company added a new statement about using AI to enhance the PlayStation experience. The 2025 line about profitable growth was also trimmed to sustainable growth, signaling expected margin pressure.

All GTA 5 owners on PS4 can now upgrade to the PS5 version free of charge, supporting both physical and digital copies. Physical owners must keep the Blu-ray inserted to play. The upgrade includes technical improvements, progress migration, and access to Hao's Special Works and the upcoming Kortz Center Heist.

Sony confirms PS5 single-player narrative games will be exclusive to PlayStation. CEO Hideaki Nishino did not publicly commit to the decision but internal communications confirm Hermen Hulst's directive that first-party single-player games will not be released on PC. The move aligns IP with PlayStation and cites insufficient PC revenue as a key factor.

Sandisk launched the Optimus GX PRO 850P SSD lineup for PlayStation 5 and PS5 Pro. The highest-capacity drive costs $2,960, which is the price of five PlayStation 5 consoles. The pricing far exceeds typical high-capacity SSDs.

Neon Giant's upcoming PS5 open world shooter No Law focuses on density over scale, packing detail and reactivity into every street and alley. The game features a fully dynamic lighting and weather system with over 3,000 varied NPCs. No release window has been announced.

Outright Games and Casual Brothers announced The Grinch 2: Saving Christmas, launching September 18 on PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Switch, and PC via Steam. Players control the Grinch collecting ornaments and using gadgets like a Jetpack and Rocket Skates to decorate a Christmas tree for the Whos. The game supports solo and local cooperative play.

Rockstar Games now offers free upgrades from GTA V on PS4 and Xbox One to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions, starting June 18. The offer applies to all PS4 owners but only digital Xbox One owners. PC players can upgrade from Legacy to Enhanced for free. Progress migration is supported.

The PS Store released two free PS5 RPGs, Mistfall Hunter and Once Human, with no PS Plus required. Both are in beta and will be free-to-play. Once Human launches fully in 2026, while Mistfall Hunter arrives July 29, 2026. Once Human is a post-apocalyptic multiplayer open-world shooter, and Mistfall Hunter is a PvPvE extraction action RPG.

Sony emails are now teasing that God of War Laufey is 'coming soon'. The message suggests an upcoming announcement or release related to the God of War franchise. No further details about the project have been disclosed.

Treyarch announced Iron Galaxy is porting the original Black Ops and Black Ops 2 to PS5 in July, with no mention of Xbox versions. Xbox fans are confused because the existing backward-compatible versions suffer from low resolution and hacking problems in online multiplayer.

Treyarch confirmed the original Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 are being ported to PlayStation by Iron Galaxy in July. The ports include campaign, multiplayer, and Zombies modes. They are expected to be native PS4 releases playable on PS5 via backward compatibility, without visual remasters.

The PlayStation store posted the official Persona 6 description, detailing everyday school life, friendships, romance, and occult incidents. The description follows the series' familiar formula of a student navigating normal life while facing darker urban legends. Atlus previously released the original game Metaphor: ReFantazio, which won Game Awards.

Sony's new LYTIA L910 camera sensor delivers cleaner night shots and extended 4K HDR recording on phones without the usual battery drain. The sensor brings LOFIC technology to mobile devices.

Treyarch will bring Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2 to PlayStation 4 and 5 in July, with Iron Galaxy Studios handling the ports. Both games originally released for Xbox 360 and PC in 2010 and 2012 respectively. No updates for Xbox or PC versions have been announced.

Treyarch confirmed PS5 ports of Call of Duty: Black Ops and Black Ops 2, releasing in July via Iron Galaxy. The ports include single player, multiplayer, and Zombies modes. They are not remasters, matching the original PS3 versions, and are PlayStation-only due to Xbox backwards compatibility.

Sony announced the Lytia 910, its first LOFIC image sensor, achieving 100dB dynamic range in a single exposure. The 50MP 1/1.28" sensor uses a capacitor next to each photodiode to prevent saturation. It supports Triple Conversion Gain HDR and captures 4K 60fps HDR video. Mass production starts this summer.

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment America CEO Shawn Layden said Xbox's recent moves show a "basic misunderstanding" of the interactive entertainment industry. Layden commented on a LinkedIn post listing Xbox decisions including a CEO changeover, weak rebrand, new tech hires, and potential studio closures. He later called the situation a "Rapid Unscheduled Disassembly.

Rockstar announced a free upgrade to the PS5 and Xbox Series X/S versions of Grand Theft Auto V for owners of the PS4 or digital Xbox One edition, starting June 18. The upgrade includes 4K resolution, ray tracing, and 60 FPS. The announcement coincides with a new GTA Online heist launching in July.

SanDisk launched officially-licensed PS5 and PS5 Pro NVMe SSDs with 1TB models starting at $380 and 8TB units at $2960. The 1TB drive offers 7300MB/s read and 6600MB/s write speeds. All models except 1TB exceed the PS5's $499 price point. The 8TB version costs over three times more than the PS5 Pro.

The DSX app v3.2 beta enables full DualSense haptics and Bluetooth audio wirelessly on PC, but requires the $8 DSX app plus a $4 DSX+ DLC on Steam. The app creates a virtual DualSense to receive native signals. A Steam login is needed every 28 days.

Sony patented a PlayStation controller with buttons that change hardness, softness, and can grab a player's fingers during gameplay. The technology aims to provide dynamic tactile feedback based on in-game actions. This could enhance immersion by physically responding to game events in real time.

Halo Studios published the Trophy list for Halo: Campaign Evolved a month early. The Platinum requires completing the campaign on Legendary with all Skulls modifiers active, finding all collectibles, and conquering other tough tasks. The LASO challenge, now an official Mythic Trophy, is the hardest blocker.

Flagship noise-cancelling headphones from Sony, Apple, and Bose cost $450 or more, but Amazon Prime Day deals from June 23 to 26 already drop Sony and Bose flagships under $400 and AirPods Pro 3 to a record low. Top picks include Sony WH-1000XM6 for sound, JLab JBuds Lux ANC for budget, and Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for workouts.

Housemarque co-founder Ilari Kuittinen hinted the studio may explore a smaller project next, not another mammoth endeavor like Saros. The studio now has 120 employees, triple its size a decade ago, but still required support from Nixxes for Saros.

A rumor claims PlayStation will lay off at least 50% of Bungie staff this summer. The cuts would significantly reduce the studio's workforce. Bungie develops the Destiny franchise.

SanDisk's Optimus GX PRO 850P NVMe SSD, an officially licensed PS5 accessory, costs $2,959.99 for the 8TB version, discounted from $3,699.99. The 4TB version is $1,499.99, and the 2TB is $759.99. A similar Western Digital SSD is available for $1,470.

Microsoft is investing heavily in PS5 Pro support for Halo: Campaign Evolved, the debut of Xbox's iconic property on PlayStation. The remake will feature PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution, SSD optimization, faster loading, 3D audio, and DualSense-exclusive features. Game Informer reports even Xbox Series X will struggle to keep up with the PS5 Pro experience.

Sony forecast fiscal 2026 Game & Network Services operating income of 600 billion yen, up from 463.3 billion yen, despite lower expected hardware sales. The profit growth relies on first-party software, network services, and a larger installed PlayStation base. PlayStation monthly active users reached 125 million in March.

Samsung and Sony are collaborating to track Spider-Man in the Brand New Day initiative. The partnership leverages technology from both companies to monitor the superhero's activities. Specific details about the tracking methods or timeline have not been disclosed.

Mistfall Hunter's free open beta is available now on PS5, weighing just under 36GB. The gothic action RPG combines Soulslike combat with loot extraction, requiring players to fight both enemies and other players. The beta supports full cross-play and solo or squad play. The full game launches July 30.

DSX, a third-party PC tool for Sony DualSense and DualShock 4 controllers, now offers beta support for haptic feedback and Bluetooth audio. The feature requires the DSX+ version (£9.13) or a £3.59 DLC. Users must opt into the Steam beta branch to access the new functionality.

Sony hopes to launch God of War Laufey in the first half of 2027, according to a leaker who previously revealed the game before its State of Play announcement. The leaker stressed plans could change and nothing is set in stone. 2027 is shaping up as a big year for PlayStation first-party studios.

A former Bungie community manager claimed the studio was "very close to shutting its doors" before Sony's acquisition. The claim came amid Destiny 2's final update and Marathon's underperformance. Sony later reported a $765m impairment loss tied to Marathon and Destiny 2 struggles.

The Relic: First Guardian launches July 31 for PS5 and PC via Steam. It follows Xbox Series and Switch 2 releases later this summer. Players restore the broken great relic to end the void in Arsiltus. Perp Games and Project Cloud Games developed and published the game.

Halo: Campaign Evolved pre-orders are climbing PlayStation charts after the game was announced for PS5. The standard edition is the best-selling pre-order on the UK PlayStation Store, with the premium edition in the top five. In France, the premium edition tops digital charts, while Germany favors the standard edition.

Infinity Ward offers one-week early campaign access for Modern Warfare 4 pre-orders, starting October 16, 2026. Digital standard and Vault Edition pre-orders qualify; physical copies do not. Multiplayer bonuses from campaign play have not been detailed yet.

The Digimon Story: Time Stranger demo shows the Nintendo Switch 2 version offers two modes: a 60 FPS performance mode with lower resolution and a Quality Mode reaching upscaled 4K docked or 1080p portable. The Switch version holds its own but cannot match the frame rate or resolution of Switch 2 or PS5.