Friday, 16 October 2026
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Sony Interactive Entertainment

Sony Interactive Entertainment is running a crowded fall 2026 calendar of hardware, software, and services while managing a public shift away from physical discs and an unresolved PS6 timeline. Cumulative PS5 shipments reached 95.3 million units as of June 30, 2026, and the company says it will not absorb rising hardware costs.

Synthesized from 30 Yomimono stories · updated 1d ago

SIE's hardware story in 2026 is defined by two numbers that do not yet line up: 95.3 million PS5 units shipped as of June 30, 2026, and a memory market that has risen about eightfold since late 2024. The company has secured enough memory for its fiscal year 2026 sales plan, but president Hideaki Nishino has told investors SIE will not absorb cost increases. A leaker put the PlayStation 6 bill of materials near $960 as of June 2026, with a possible retail price approaching $1,000. SIE has filed a cooling patent published in the US in June 2026 and a controller payment patent published September 17, 2026, though it lists no commercial plans for either.

The release slate is dense and dated. Until Dawn 2 arrives January 28, 2027 for PS5, developed by Firesprite. Ghost of Yotei gets patch 2.0 and a Complete Edition on October 1 and 2. MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls launched August 7, while the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick was delayed from that date for final adjustments at 34,980 yen. A Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition DualSense was announced September 3 with no date or price. A LISA of BLACKPINK DualSense ships October 30 for 12,480 yen.

On services, PlayStation Plus added HELLDIVERS 2 and Kingdom Come: Deliverance II in August, and October's lineup brings F1 25, Hello Neighbor, and DIGBOT EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 2 from October 6 to November 2. A Tokyo Game Show Sale ran September 9 to 23. SIE has set an October 24 PlayStation Festival in Osaka and a TGS 2026 booth with a Grand Theft Auto VI trailer theater.

Key facts

Cumulative PS5 shipments
95.3 million units as of June 30, 2026, after 1.6 million units shipped from April to June 2026 ↗
Physical disc production
SIE announced on July 1, 2026 that it will end production of physical discs for new PlayStation games by January 2028 ↗
Until Dawn 2 release
Launches January 28, 2027 for PS5, developed by Firesprite ↗
Ghost of Yotei update
Patch 2.0 on October 2 adds Echoes of Sekigahara and Most Wanted; Complete Edition launches October 1 for 8,980 yen ↗
October PS Plus lineup
F1 25, Hello Neighbor, and DIGBOT EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 2 available October 6 to November 2 ↗
DualSense LISA Limited Edition
Releases October 30 for 12,480 yen in limited quantities on Amazon, designed jointly with LISA of BLACKPINK ↗
FlexStrike delay
The official PS5 and PC arcade controller was delayed from its planned August 7 launch for final adjustments; price remains 34,980 yen ↗
Kojima Productions PHYSINT
PlayStation Studios ended its collaboration; Kojima Productions announced an Xbox publishing partnership on September 10, 2026 ↗
Customer harassment policy
Published September 1, 2026 for Japan, listing eight examples of harassment and allowing legal measures including criminal proceedings ↗

Timeline

Synthesized by Yomimono from the cited Yomimono stories below, each itself sourced, then editorially reviewed. Every fact links the story it came from.

Facts

Announced
new trailer for MARVEL: Tokon Fighting Souls and Year 1 DLC lineup · 2026-10-11
Announced
patent application for a controller that receives payment method information from a phone, credit card, or gift card and passes that data to the console · 2026-10-05
Announced
PlayStation Festival in Osaka on October 24 at Grand Front Osaka North Building 1F Knowledge Plaza, running 11:00 to 19:00 · 2026-10-03
Announced
began accepting purchase applications for the PlayStation 5 Pro at the Sony Store · 2026-10-03
Announced
August 2026 PlayStation Store download rankings · 2026-09-11
Announced
advance trial reservations for PlayStation Plus subscribers for the PlayStation booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026 · 2026-09-10
Announced
price cut of PULSE Explore Wireless Earbuds · 2026-09-09
Announced
Tokyo Game Show Sale on the PlayStation Store (Tokyo Game Show 2026) · 2026-09-09
Announced
Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller (State of Play) · 2026-09-03
Announced
Until Dawn 2 release date (State of Play broadcast) · 2026-09-03
Announced
basic policy on customer harassment for Japan (publication on PlayStation Support page) · 2026-09-02
Announced
broadcast of two PlayStation information programs on September 3 · 2026-09-01
Announced
patch 2.0 (October 2) · 2026-08-14
Announced
story expansion Echoes of Sekigahara (October 2) · 2026-08-14
Announced
policy to end physical media production in January 2028 · 2026-08-14
Announced
plan to end disc production for new PlayStation games starting January 2028 · 2026-07-14
Announced
end production of physical discs for new PlayStation games by January 2028, moving to digital-only releases · 2026-07-07
Announced
will stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation console titles starting in January 2028 · 2026-07-01
Announced
three official PlayStation 5 hardware products: FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick, wireless speaker, and gaming monitor · 2026-06-04
Noted
monopolizes the PlayStation digital game market by limiting sales to its own store · 2026-08-14
Noted
profits Sony allegedly obtained unfairly from Dutch gamers · 2026-08-14
Noted
released a character guide video for Ghost Rider · 2026-07-17
Noted
filed a patent for cooling technology · 2026-07-15
Noted
filed a dust-proof patent · 2026-07-15
Noted
Sony Interactive Entertainment with 228 · 2026-06-27
Noted
Sony's 2026 annual SEC report removed a line about continuing to release first-party titles on PC · 2026-06-22
Release
special · 2026-08-24 · 2026-08-27

Connections

Produces
tales of arise, dino crisis 2, playstation 5 digital edition midnight black, f1 25, hello neighbor, earth defense force world brothers 2, playstation 5 pro, dualsense wireless controller lisa limited edition, final fantasy vii rebirth, pragmata, resident evil requiem, ghost of yotei, flexstrike, marvel s wolverine, helldivers 2, god of war, until dawn 2, flexstrike wireless fight stick
Staff change
shuhei yoshida

Structured graph also available as JSON at /public/entities/sony-interactive-entertainment. CC BY 4.0.

Claim activity

When a claim about Sony Interactive Entertainment was confirmed, debunked, or disputed against open-web sources. The record stays even after a claim drops off the facts list.

  • Confirmed new trailer for MARVEL: Tokon Fighting Souls and Year 1 DLC lineup 4d ago · source
  • Confirmed patent application for a controller that receives payment method information from a phone, credit card, or gift card and passes that data to the console Oct 6 · source
  • Confirmed Sony Interactive Entertainment produces PlayStation 5 Pro Oct 3 · source
  • Confirmed Sony Interactive Entertainment produces DualSense Wireless Controller "LISA" Limited Edition Oct 3 · source
  • Confirmed Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller Sep 28 · source
  • Confirmed Tokyo Game Show Sale on the PlayStation Store Sep 18 · source
  • Disputed Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller Sep 17 · source
  • Confirmed policy to end physical media production in January 2028 Sep 14 · source
  • Confirmed plan to end disc production for new PlayStation games starting January 2028 Sep 11 · source
  • Confirmed Sony Interactive Entertainment produces FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH Sep 11 · source
  • Debunked Sony Interactive Entertainment staff change Shuhei Yoshida Sep 4 · source
  • Confirmed end production of physical discs for new PlayStation games by January 2028, moving to digital-only releases Sep 3 · source

All coverage

1d ago

PS Plus October Game Catalog Adds Tales of Arise and Mafia

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the October 2026 overseas Game Catalog lineup for PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium subscribers. The list is split across three dates. The Midnight Walk, a claymation horror adventure from Fast Travel Games that supports PS VR2, arrives October 15. On October 20, Mafia: The Old Country from 2K, Horizon Forbidden West from Sony Interactive Entertainment, and the four-player co-op shooter Mycopunk from Devolver Digital join. October 27 brings Tales of ARISE - Beyond the Dawn Edition from Bandai Namco Entertainment, Poppy Playtime: Chapter 2 from Mob Entertainment, and Monster Energy Supercross 25 - The Official Video Game from Milestone. In the Classics Catalog for Premium members, Capcom's Dino Crisis 2 and RollerCoaster Tycoon 3: Complete Edition are both listed for PS5 and PS4. Release dates differ by title. Titles without a specified date become playable from October 20.

2d ago

Kojima Posts Photo From Sony City After PHYSINT Pullout

Hideo Kojima posted a photo with the caption "I visited Sony City," which Game Spark reads as pointing to the NBF Osaki Building that houses Sony City Osaki. The post drew roughly 14,000 likes in Japan and 41,000 overseas. In September 2026, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it was ending its partnership with Kojima Productions on the espionage game PHYSINT.

3d ago

Sony To Launch PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Midnight Black In Japan On November 19

Sony Interactive Entertainment will release the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Midnight Black Japan-Only on November 19 at a suggested retail price of 55,000 yen including tax. The console is a color variant of the existing PlayStation 5 Digital Edition Japan-Only, which launched in 2025, and swaps the white shell for an all-black finish on the console cover and bundled DualSense controller. Because it is the Digital Edition with no disc drive, playing packaged software requires a separately sold disc drive. Sony will ship a matching Disc Drive Midnight Black on the same day for 11,980 yen including tax. Preorders for both products begin October 20 at PlayStation retailers and e-commerce sites in Japan. The console can only be used with a PlayStation account whose console language is set to Japanese and whose Country/Region is set to Japan. Buyers who purchase an eligible PS5 and apply by March 31, 2027 get a manufacturer warranty extended from one year to two years.

4d ago

Marvel Tokon Year 1 DLC Adds Thor, Venom And Jubilee

Sony Interactive Entertainment released a new trailer for MARVEL: Tokon Fighting Souls and confirmed the Year 1 DLC lineup: Phoenix Cyclops in November 2026, Thor in winter 2027, Venom alongside the KLYNTAR STAGE in spring 2027, and Jubilee in summer 2027. The trailer lists the Thor character as the Jane version who took up Mjolnir.

Oct 5

SIE Patent Filing Shows Controller as Payment Bridge

A Sony Interactive Entertainment patent application filed March 17, 2025 and published September 17, 2026 describes a controller that receives payment method information from a phone, credit card, or gift card held near it, then passes that data to the console. NFC and Bluetooth are cited. The console queries a server to confirm validity before the purchase completes. The documents list no supported models or commercialization plans.

Oct 3

Sony Sets PlayStation Festival For Osaka On October 24

Sony Interactive Entertainment will hold PlayStation Festival on October 24 at Grand Front Osaka North Building 1F Knowledge Plaza, running from 11:00 to 19:00. Attendees can play PS5 titles that appeared at the PlayStation booth at Tokyo Game Show 2026 in September. Advance trial reservations opened October 2 for PlayStation Plus subscribers and close October 21 at 23:59, handled first-come, first-served through the event's special site. The reservable titles are Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance from Capcom, Final Fantasy VII Revelation from Square Enix, ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE from Bandai Namco Entertainment, and GUNDAM ROGUE ORBIT from Bandai Namco Entertainment. The day also includes a PLAY! PLAY! PLAY! special stream, sales of PlayStation goods with limited-quantity Astro Bot items, hands-on time with the PlayStation Portal Remote Player, and novelty giveaways tied to trying a game, posting at the venue, or adding the official PlayStation LINE account.

Oct 3

PS Plus October Free Play Adds F1 25, Hello Neighbor, and Voxel EDF Spinoff

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the October 2026 PlayStation Plus monthly free play lineup on October 1, and it includes three titles available from October 6 to November 2. Subscribers on the Essential, Extra, and Premium plans can add F1 25, Hello Neighbor, and the voxel Earth Defense Force spinoff DIGBOT EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 2 to their game library at no extra cost and keep playing them while their subscription stays active. F1 25, the official game of the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship, is only for PS5. Hello Neighbor and DIGBOT EARTH DEFENSE FORCE 2 are both available for PS5 and PS4. The EDF spinoff carries a listed price of 6,980 yen, and Amazon and other retailers sell PlayStation Store credit in 10,000 and 15,000 yen denominations. September's free play titles remain claimable until October 5.

Oct 3

Sony Store Opens PS5 Pro Purchase Applications With 60-Hour Play Requirement

Sony Interactive Entertainment began accepting purchase applications for the PlayStation 5 Pro at the Sony Store on September 28. The application window runs until October 7 at 11:59 PM, and shipping is scheduled for early to mid-November. The eligible product is the PS5 Pro model CFI-7100B01 with a 2TB SSD, priced at 137,980 yen including tax. Applicants must use a Sony account registered in Japan and have logged at least 60 hours of total playtime on PS4 or PS5 between September 27, 2024 and September 27, 2026 at 11:59 PM. The account's My Sony ID and sign-in ID must also be unified. Applications are limited to one unit per account, and applicants are asked to refrain from buying for resale. If applications exceed the planned sales units, a lottery will be held, with winning results announced sequentially starting around October 26. Winners must complete the purchase by November 2 at 11:59 AM. A second-chance lottery is planned for units not purchased by the deadline.

Oct 3

Sony Announces LISA of BLACKPINK DualSense Controller for October 30

Sony Interactive Entertainment will release a DualSense Wireless Controller "LISA" Limited Edition on October 30, sold in limited quantities on Amazon, with pre-orders opening October 2 at 10:00 for 12,480 yen. The design was made jointly with LISA of BLACKPINK. It is based on her preferred "Chroma Pearl" color and carries motifs of her signature bangs and eyes, stars, and the letters "LL." LISA said in a comment posted on the PlayStation Blog that she likes to spend free time playing games, that creating something people experience through play was a first for her, and that she wanted subtle details fans would notice right away while keeping her own style. The design was decided early in production through close coordination with LISA. The same PlayStation Blog post also shows apparel built on the touchpad motif, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, tote bags, and a controller case, sold in limited quantities in the United States only.

Sep 15

Bungie Delays Marathon Major Update To December 8

Bungie delayed a major Marathon update planned for September 22 and will fold its content into the Symbiosis update on December 8. The postponed material included permanent PvE content, a Perimeter map revamp, a new Runner shell, a social space, an experimental TDM mode, and a new player intro overhaul. Bungie also said it will stop tying major updates to fixed season deadlines, and an October 6 wipe will address gear gaps left by Season 2.

Sep 11

August 2026 PS Store Download Rankings Announced

Sony Interactive Entertainment published the August 2026 PlayStation Store download rankings on PlayStation.Blog. Beast of Reincarnation, released August 4, took first place on PS5, ahead of METAL GEAR SOLID: MASTER COLLECTION Vol.2 and Palworld. Powerful Pro Baseball 2026-2027 led PS4, with KINGDOM HEARTS -HD 1.5+2.5 ReMIX- second and FINAL FANTASY IX third. Beat Saber led PS VR2 for a second consecutive month, and Once Human topped the free-to-play category. U.S./Canada rankings were published alongside Japan's.

Sep 10

Sony Sets TGS 2026 PlayStation Booth Trials And GTA VI Theater

Sony Interactive Entertainment will open advance trial reservations for PlayStation Plus subscribers on September 10, ahead of Tokyo Game Show 2026 at Makuhari Messe from September 17 to 21. Reservations, first-come and running until September 16 at 23:59, cover public days only and include Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance, FINAL FANTASY VII REVELATION, Marvel's Wolverine, and ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE. The PlayStation booth also hosts a Grand Theft Auto VI: An Extended Look theater, screening the new trailer on a 300-inch screen, with floor haptics that vibrate in sync with the video and sound. Theater visitors get a Grand Theft Auto VI PlayStation T-shirt. Business days run September 17 and 18, 10:00 to 17:00. Public days are September 19 and 20, 9:30 to 17:00, and September 21, 9:30 to 16:00. The venue is Makuhari Messe, with the TKP Tokyo Bay Makuhari Hall also listed.

Sep 10

Kojima Productions Shifts PHYSINT From PlayStation to Xbox Partnership

Kojima Productions announced on September 10, 2026 that its new-generation action espionage game PHYSINT will be published in partnership with Xbox, ending its collaboration with PlayStation Studios. Hideo Kojima said Sony Interactive Entertainment notified him in mid-June 2026 that the in-production PHYSINT project would be canceled. Kojima wrote on X that PHYSINT is an important project for him and for Kojima Productions, so he spent about three months searching for a new partner and settled on Xbox, a party with whom he can share a vision for the future. The Xbox partnership expands on the existing collaboration behind OD, which is also set for Xbox Game Studios. Xbox division CEO Asha Sharma said Kojima's attitude of challenging conventional concepts is the kind of creativity Xbox wants to support. PlayStation Studios said it made the difficult decision to step away after careful consideration and continues to hold Kojima's vision for the game in deep respect. Release date and price for PHYSINT are undecided.

Sep 9

PULSE Explore Wireless Earbuds Price Cut to 22,980 Yen on September 15

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on September 9 that it will lower the suggested retail price of the PULSE Explore Wireless Earbuds in Japan from 34,980 yen to 22,980 yen, a cut of 12,000 yen, effective September 15. The Midnight Black version gets the same reduction. The earbuds are PlayStation's first wireless earbuds and the first PlayStation audio device with custom-designed planar magnetic drivers, a component usually found in professional-grade headphones. They support lossless audio over PlayStation Link and can connect to Bluetooth devices at the same time, so a user can play on a PS5 with the USB adapter while taking a call on a smartphone. The built-in dual microphones use AI to filter background noise. The price change applies to model numbers CFI-ZWE1J, CFI-ZWE1JC, and CFI-ZWE1J01. The package includes the PlayStation Link USB adapter, a charging case, eight ear tips, and a USB cable.

Sep 9

Tokyo Game Show Sale Cuts Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to 70% Off

Sony Interactive Entertainment started the Tokyo Game Show Sale on the PlayStation Store on September 9, offering discounts on a range of PS5 and PS4 titles. The sale runs until September 23, ahead of the Tokyo Game Show 2026 event that begins September 17. Among the featured discounts, Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, the Square Enix RPG preceding a series finale, is priced at 1,973 yen, a 70 percent reduction from 6,578 yen. Monster Hunter Wilds, which has a large DLC planned, is 25 percent off at 3,742 yen, while Pragmata Deluxe Edition receives its first-ever discount at 20 percent off, bringing it to 7,192 yen. Other titles include Persona 3 Reload Digital Premium Edition at 60 percent off (5,491 yen), Biohazard Requiem at 30 percent off (6,293 yen), Nioh 3 at 43 percent off (5,517 yen), and Atelier Yumia: The Alchemist of Memories and the Imagined Land at 50 percent off (4,840 yen). The sale also covers deluxe editions and DLC, with more titles listed on the official sale page.

Sep 3

GTA6 Edition DualSense Wireless Controller Announced at State of Play

During the State of Play live stream on September 3, 2026, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the Grand Theft Auto VI Limited Edition DualSense Wireless Controller. The PS5 gamepad features design and decoration inspired by Grand Theft Auto VI, the upcoming game from Rockstar Games. The presentation did not disclose a release date or price for the controller, and further details are expected at a later time. According to coverage from 4Gamer.net and GAME Watch, the controller appears to be available in two color variants: white and black. The announcement was part of the broader State of Play presentation that streamed from 22:00 Japan time. The controller is modeled after the game, with themed decoration that distinguishes it from standard DualSense models. As of the announcement, Sony Interactive Entertainment has not provided additional information about when the controller will launch or how much it will cost. The two color options were observed from images captured during the stream, though official confirmation of the variants is still pending. Fans awaiting the game can expect more details on the controller as they emerge.

Sep 3

Until Dawn 2 Sets January 28, 2027 Release Date

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced during its September 3 State of Play broadcast that the horror adventure Until Dawn 2 will launch on January 28, 2027 for PS5. The sequel is developed by Firesprite, the UK-based SIE studio behind Horizon Call of the Mountain. The game follows a group of ghost hunters who run the popular paranormal channel Dead True. The crew signs a contract with a major television network and travels to a tropical uninhabited island for filming, only to encounter genuine terror. The island, which some sources name as Akishima, is said to hide a terrible secret spanning centuries, including vengeful spirits born from hidden tragedies and grudges. The latest trailer shows the crew facing trouble during their broadcast and attempting some kind of ritual. A key element of the game is relationship management among the crew, which becomes more important than in previous entries. Players make difficult choices, and some story branches are determined by character relationships, with trivial interactions creating a butterfly effect that leads to unexpected outcomes. The game's structure keeps characters alive or dead based on player actions, as the crew aims to survive until dawn.

Sep 2

Sony Interactive Entertainment Publishes Customer Harassment Policy for Japan

Sony Interactive Entertainment published a basic policy on customer harassment for Japan on September 1, 2026, on the PlayStation Support page. The policy says the company will respond sincerely to customer voices and use them to improve services, but will not tolerate speech or demands that exceed socially acceptable bounds. It lists eight examples of harassment, including persistent or prolonged demands, excessive or unreasonable compensation or apology requests, abusive language, threats and slander, demands unrelated to products or services, intimidating attitudes or forcing employees to kneel, discriminatory or sexual remarks, attacks on individual employees, and unauthorized visits to offices or facilities. When harassment is confirmed, SIE may restrict or stop responding to the customer, and may consider legal measures including cooperation with police and lawyers and criminal proceedings. The policy follows the revised Act on Promotion of Measures to Prevent Unfair Labor Practices, which takes effect October 1, 2026, and makes customer harassment countermeasures mandatory for all companies. SIE joins Square Enix, Capcom and Arc System Works, which have published similar policies.

Sep 1

State of Play and State of Play Japan to Air September 3

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on August 31 that it will broadcast two PlayStation information programs back to back on September 3, starting at 10:00 p.m. Japan time. The first, State of Play, will deliver the latest announcements and updates from PlayStation Studios and various software makers. At the end of that program, Square Enix will offer a detailed look at the vast world of Final Fantasy VII Revelation, the title planned for a spring 2027 release on Switch 2, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Immediately after, State of Play Japan returns with voice actor Yuki Kaji serving again as host. That program focuses on upcoming titles from game studios in Japan and Asia, with new gameplay footage and information. Both programs stream live on the official PlayStation Japan YouTube channel. State of Play carries English audio with Japanese subtitles, while State of Play Japan is in Japanese. The announcement positions the double feature ahead of Tokyo Game Show 2026, which one outlet notes suggests a lavish lineup of upcoming titles.

Aug 27

Sony Reaffirms PS5 Exclusivity With 'Only On PS5' Video

Sony Interactive Entertainment released a video titled "Only On PS5 | PS5 Games" on the official PlayStation YouTube channel on August 24, 2026. The video presents a lineup of titles as PS5 exclusives, including the already released Astro Bot, SAROS, Gran Turismo 7, and Ghost of Yōtei, alongside upcoming releases such as Marvel's Wolverine and God of War Laufey. The video displays the phrase "PLAYSTATION 5 EXCLUSIVE" for each game. This follows a March 2026 Bloomberg report citing internal sources that SIE had stopped planning PC versions for major PS5 single-player games, with Ghost of Yōtei and SAROS remaining console exclusive while online games like Marathon and MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls continue as multiplatform releases. SIE has not issued an official statement confirming a policy shift, but the video arrives after several signals pointing in that direction. Game*Spark previously reported that PC development mentions have disappeared from PlayStation Studios studio descriptions and that Sony's annual report removed references to "PC and other multiplatform" from its gaming segment. The video's comment section is largely filled with anger from overseas gamers over the discontinuation of physical disc versions.

Aug 14

Pilaf Seijin Writes New Song for PS5 Commercial Featuring Six Games

Rapper Pilaf Seijin appears in a new PS5 TV commercial for Sony Interactive Entertainment. Two videos, "Let's Play a Lot on PlayStation 5! feat. Pilaf Seijin" and "Everyone Gather on PlayStation 5! feat. Pilaf Seijin," will release on the official PlayStation Japan YouTube channel on August 14. Pilaf Seijin wrote the commercial song "Dabi Dabi Du," which incorporates the worldviews of six featured games, and provides narration. The song releases digitally on August 28.

Aug 14

Ghost of Yotei Adds Two DLC Packs and Complete Edition in October

Sony Interactive Entertainment will release patch 2.0 for Ghost of Yotei on October 2, adding the story expansion Echoes of Sekigahara and the single-player survival mode Most Wanted. A Complete Edition bundling the base game, both DLCs, and the free Legends co-op mode launches October 1 for 8,980 yen.

Aug 14

Stop Killing Games Backs Sony Class Action in Netherlands

The game preservation movement Stop Killing Games and the preservation activist group DoesItPlay have announced support for a class action lawsuit against Sony filed by the Dutch non-profit organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument (SM&C). The lawsuit, initiated in early 2025, argues that Sony monopolizes the PlayStation digital game market by limiting sales to its own store, creating what SM&C calls a "Sony tax" that forces consumers to pay unfair prices. According to SM&C, digital versions of games cost on average up to 47% more than physical versions. The lawsuit seeks fair game pricing, alternatives to the PlayStation Store, and the return of profits Sony allegedly obtained unfairly from Dutch gamers. Stop Killing Games stated on its official YouTube channel that it fully supports the SM&C lawsuit and backs its claims in the Dutch court. SM&C warns that Sony's announced policy to end physical media production in January 2028 will give Sony even greater control over the sale, pricing, and conditions of new PlayStation games, and raises concerns about the disappearance of the second-hand game market. Dutch gamers can register to join the lawsuit via the SM&C website.

Aug 13

PS Plus August Game Catalog Adds HELLDIVERS 2, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on August 13, 2026 the August additions to the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog, available to Extra and Premium tier subscribers. The cooperative action shooter HELLDIVERS 2, in which up to four players complete missions across planets overrun by insects and robots, launched on the service the same day. The announcement coincides with the release of the game's Devoid of Liberty update, themed around the squid-like mutant Illuminate faction. On August 18, the open-world RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, set in 15th-century Bohemia, and the action game Vampire Survivors will join the lineup. August 25 brings Hell is Us, plus four additional titles: Umamusume: Pretty Derby - Party Dash, Two Point Museum, Metro Exodus, and Dying Light 2 Stay Human. The Classics Catalog, available to Premium plan subscribers, adds the PS2 title Shin Onimusha: Dawn of Dreams and the original PlayStation game Disney's Atlantis: The Lost Empire on August 18. All eight Game Catalog titles and two Classics Catalog titles were confirmed across multiple outlets.

Aug 9

Shuhei Yoshida Reflects on Nearly 30 Years of Creators at CEDEC 2026

At CEDEC 2026, Shuhei Yoshida delivered a keynote recounting his nearly 30-year career, from joining Sony Computer Entertainment in 1993 as employee number 32 to founding yosp Inc. He discussed his involvement with 'Crash Bandicoot' and 'Demon's Souls,' and stated his career-long stance of choosing the creator over IP.

Aug 4

Shuhei Yoshida Reflects on 30 Years of Creators at CEDEC 2026 Keynote

At CEDEC 2026 on July 22, 2026, Shuhei Yoshida of yosp delivered a keynote titled "Wonderful Games, Creators, and Their Creativity That I Have Encountered," looking back on roughly 30 years of working with game developers. Yoshida joined Sony Computer Entertainment in 1993 as employee number 32, later led first-party development in the United States, and left Sony Interactive Entertainment in 2025 to found yosp. During the speech, he covered 26 titles, with the latter half introducing 16 co-creation examples from "Gravity Daze" in 2012 to "Beast of Reincarnation" this year. He named "Journey" as the title he is most proud of, citing Jenova Chen's focus on player feelings and a fan message about overcoming grief. Yoshida also discussed "Bloodborne," calling the lack of a remaster, PC version, or sequel a "mystery," and recounted how "Demon's Souls" initially had overseas releases shelved before word of mouth changed that decision. He closed by expressing his intention to continue supporting indie creators worldwide.

Aug 4

PS5 Cumulative Shipments Reach 95.3 Million Units

Sony Group reported its consolidated results for the first quarter of fiscal year 2026 on July 31, revealing that cumulative PS5 shipments reached 95.3 million units as of June 30, 2026. This figure adds the 1.6 million units shipped from April to June 2026 to the 93.7 million units shipped as of March 31, 2026. The quarterly shipment total represents a decrease of 900,000 units from the 2.5 million units shipped in the same period last year. Sony also disclosed that PS4 and PS5 software sold 66.1 million copies in the quarter, with the digital download ratio at 82%, roughly equivalent to 54.2 million copies. The download ratio was 83% in the same period last year, 85% in the previous quarter, and 78% for the full fiscal year 2025, maintaining a level around 80%. Regarding memory market conditions, Sony stated that it has secured the memory required for its planned sales volume for fiscal year 2026, with no change to its plan to keep hardware profit or loss in line with the previous fiscal year. The announcement follows concerns over rising memory and storage prices, which had led Sony to plan sales based on memory procurement at reasonable prices.

Jul 17

Ghost Rider Character Guide Video Released for MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls

Sony released a character guide video for Ghost Rider in the fighting game MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls, launching August 7 on PS5. The video explains the Vengeance Gauge mechanic, which has three zones and affects move power. The second open beta test starts July 24, with Ghost Rider playable.

Jul 15

Sony Files Patent for Cooling Technology Amid PS6 Speculation

Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a patent for a cooling technology designed to improve heat dissipation in electronic devices placed in vertical or horizontal orientations. The patent, published in the US in June 2026, focuses on heat pipe design to maintain cooling efficiency regardless of orientation. Some overseas media speculate the technology could be related to the PS6. Sony also filed a dust-proof patent months ago.

Jul 15

Sony Delays FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick for Final Adjustments

Sony Interactive Entertainment has delayed the release of its official PlayStation 5 and PC arcade controller, the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick. Originally planned to launch alongside the fighting game MARVEL Tokon: Fighting Souls on August 7, the controller is postponed for final adjustments to ensure the best experience. A new release date has not been announced. The price remains 34,980 yen.

Jul 14

UK Retail Body Criticizes PlayStation's Disc Production End, Citing Consumer Choice

The UK's Entertainment Retail Association (ERA) has criticized Sony Interactive Entertainment's plan to end disc production for new PlayStation games starting January 2028. ERA CEO Kim Bayley said the decision means "corporate convenience has trumped consumer choice," arguing that physical discs offer ownership, sharing, and resale value that digital downloads do not. The association, whose members include Amazon and HMV, cited its own data showing the UK disc market exceeded £300 million in 2025 and that about 25% of people under 25 still play games on disc. According to NielsenIQ/GfK data, 45% of physical copies sold in the UK in 2025 were for PS5 and PS4, accounting for 47% of physical market revenue. However, the number of stores handling packaged games has dropped by over 2,000 since 2021, with 99.1% of buyers purchasing online. Protests using the hashtag #NoDiscNoBuy and a Change.org petition have gathered over 300,000 signatures. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, told IGN that even 500,000 protesters would have limited impact on SIE and are unlikely to change the policy.

Jul 10

Ghost of Yōtei Collaboration Shop Opens in Hokkaido July 18-19

MSY announced a limited-time collaboration shop in the Mount Yōtei foothills region of Hokkaido, the setting of Ghost of Yōtei. The shop will be open July 18-19 at Niseko Takahashi Farm. It will sell items made from Hokkaido solid wood, including wood pin badges and magnets, a collection with images from the game, and lifestyle products using key visuals.

Jul 7

Sony's Disc Phaseout Sparks Debate Over Digital Ownership

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on July 1 that it will end production of physical discs for new PlayStation games by January 2028, moving to digital-only releases. A blog post by developer Popcar argues the real issue is not physical vs. digital but the loss of ownership, including the ability to trade or preserve games. The post has sparked discussion on Hacker News, with commenters debating the nature of digital purchases as licenses.

Jul 2

PlayStation 6 Price Could Approach $1,000 Amid RAM Shortage

Leaker KeplerL2 reports that the PlayStation 6's bill of materials has risen to around $960 as of June 2026, driven by a RAM shortage tied to AI demand. Sony president Hideaki Nishino told investors the company will not absorb cost increases, prioritizing profitability over expanding the user base. The expected retail price may approach $1,000.

Jul 1

Sony to End Physical Disc Production for PlayStation Games in January 2028

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on July 1 that it will stop producing physical game discs for all new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028. The company said the decision is driven by consumer preference for digital media, which now significantly outpaces physical disc sales. Games released before January 2028 will continue to be available in disc format. New titles after that date will be sold only as digital downloads through the PlayStation Store and retailers that sell digital codes. Sony reported that digital sales accounted for 78% of full game software purchases on PS5 in fiscal year 2025. The announcement does not affect existing disc-compatible hardware; current consoles will still play previously released physical games. The move follows years of steady growth in digital sales across the industry and Sony's increasing emphasis on digital distribution through services like PlayStation Plus and Digital Edition console variants. Critics have raised concerns about long-term game preservation when titles are only available digitally, as delisting or service shutdowns can make them inaccessible.

Jun 27

Bandai Namco Tops Patent Deterrence Power Ranking for 2025

Patent Result has released its Deterrence Power Ranking 2025 for the game and entertainment industry, tallying how often each company's patents were cited as reasons for rejection in other companies' patent examinations during 2025. Bandai Namco Entertainment leads the ranking with 328 patents cited, followed by Konami Digital Entertainment with 285 and Sony Interactive Entertainment with 228. Sega ranks fourth with 198, Nintendo fifth with 161, and Colopl sixth with 148. GREE Holdings, Capcom, Square Enix Holdings, and DeNA round out the top ten. The ranking consolidates company groups and reflects patent holders as of May 2026. Bandai Namco's most cited patent covers an event presentation control system for virtual three-dimensional spaces, cited in examinations of four applications including one from MIXI. Konami's top patent grants benefits according to object selection in a game, affecting Capcom, Colopl, and Bandai Namco. SIE's most cited patent assigns virtual reality spectators to venue seats and transmits to head-mounted displays, used in four rejections including one from NTT Communications.

Jun 22

Sony Annual SEC Report Omits PC Release Plans Line

Sony's 2026 annual SEC report removed a line about continuing to release first-party titles on PC, which was present in the 2025 version. Bloomberg reported in March that Sony had scrapped PC releases for Ghost of Yōtei and other internal games, with online titles like Marathon and Marvel Tokon still planned for PC. External publisher games like Death Stranding 2 and Kena: Scars of Kosmora remain on track for PC.

Jun 5

Sony State of Play 2026: Just Don't Call It "Goddess of War"

Sony held a State of Play presentation in June 2026. The event featured new game announcements and updates for PlayStation titles. One notable reveal was a new God of War project, though the presenter explicitly asked viewers not to call it "Goddess of War." The show also included third-party showcases and a look at upcoming hardware accessories.

Jun 4

Sony Interactive Entertainment Announces Three Official PS5 Gaming Peripherals

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced three official PlayStation 5 hardware products: the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick, a wireless speaker, and a gaming monitor, all set for release this year. The arcade stick is the company's first first-party fighting controller, designed with portability and tournament use in mind, including a lock button and a carrying case.

Jun 2

Until Dawn 2 Announced for PS5, Set in 2027

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced "Until Dawn 2" during its State of Play broadcast on June 3, 2026. The sequel to the 2015 horror adventure game is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5 in 2027. Developed by Firesprite, the game features a new cast and setting, independent of the original's story. The protagonists are a group of ghost hunters who run a popular paranormal channel called "Dead True." After previously staging fake horror experiences for views, they encounter genuine terror while filming on an uninhabited island. Wishlist registration is now open on the PlayStation Store. The announcement was part of a larger State of Play presentation that also included release dates for "Marvel's Wolverine" (September 15), "Onimusha: Way of the Sword" (September 25), and "ACE COMBAT 8: WINGS OF THEVE" (October 2), among other titles.

Jun 1

PlayStation Brand's First Wireless Arcade Stick FlexStrike Launches August 6

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on June 2 that it will release the FlexStrike Wireless Fight Stick, the first arcade controller under the PlayStation brand, on August 6 for 34,980 yen. Pre-orders begin June 12. The controller is designed for PS5 and PC, with a thin body, a semi-hard carry case, and a rechargeable battery. It connects via PlayStation Link wireless or USB-C. The company also revealed the 27-inch Gaming Monitor with DualSense Charging Hook, a QHD IPS display with up to 120Hz on PS5 and 240Hz on PC, priced at 49,980 yen and launching August 27 with pre-orders from June 5. A third product, the PULSE Elevate Wireless Speaker, was confirmed for a release in the latter half of 2026; its price and pre-order date are to be announced. The fight stick's release coincides with the August 7 launch of the fighting game MARVEL Tōkon: Fighting Souls.