For the first time, more people are using a PS5 console than a PS4, according to Sony. In a new look at the business of PlayStation, Sony noted that PS5 had more monthly active users when compared to PS4, with the combined playerbase now at 124 million users, as of March 31.

Sony said that it had 49 million monthly users each on PS5 and PS4, as of April 30, 2024. While it hasn't provided exact figures on just how many people are now on PS5 compared to PS4, the accompanying slide does suggest that there has been a significant change here. Spending has also increased, with Sony noting that people were spending more on peripherals, services, and content.

Sony's graph slide showing the MAU split between PS5 and PS4.

It took over four years for the PS5 to surpass the PS4 in this category, but there are several reasons for this. The PS5 suffered from stock shortages when it first launched, and most games were available on both PlayStation platforms. This included several big sports titles and other AAA releases, which are generally considered to be some of the big drivers behind adopting new console hardware.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Amidst Xbox's multiplatform publishing strategy, Sony is reiterating its commitment to prioritizing the PlayStation 5. During a recent Sony business meeting and "fireside chat," PlayStation Studios CEO Hermen Hulst stated the company is taking a "very measured, very deliberate approach" when it comes to deciding if and when a first-party title appears on other platforms like PC.

Sony has been porting many of its marquee titles to PC for years. Some of its more recent live-service titles, like Helldivers 2 and the short-lived Concord, released day-and-date on console and PC, while tentpole single-player games like God of War: Ragnarok or Ghost of Tsushima typically release on PS5 first and arrive at least a year later on PC.

When asked about the industry's move towards multiplatform titles and how Sony is looking to protect the "value" of the PS5 console, Hulst indicated that Sony isn't looking to change its current strategy.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Switch 2 is so hot right now. So much so that Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Hideaki Nishino was asked if the PlayStation team is worried about the system's increased performance and third-party support, possibly leading to tougher competition for PS5. The answer boiled down to: Not really.

Nishino discussed the Switch 2 during a Sony business presentation, where he even touched on PS6 (but not in name) and cloud gaming. Switch 2 set a new record for fastest-selling system of all time, with Nintendo stating it sold 3.5 million consoles in four days. Nishino said successful launches like this can be a boon for everybody. He noted that "catalysts in the market are great for the industry as a whole, as they invigorate the excitement and demand more broadly," per VGC.

The PlayStation executive also conveyed confidence in the PS5 as a whole, especially when it comes to gaming on a TV. "PlayStation 5 is designed for an immersive gaming experience, and this includes the innovative DualSense controller features as well. We believe PS5-level performance is required to achieve a great experience on big screens. And in this way, we have provided a unique offering for players and creators in this current console generation."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Microsoft is shaking things up with its new strategy of launching its own games on rival platforms, and now Sony has reacted to Microsoft's latest moves. As part of an investor fireside chat, Sony Interactive Entertainment CEO Hideaki Nishino was asked to respond to speculation from investors that Microsoft is "moving away from the console."

To be clear, Microsoft has made no announcements about moving away from building hardware, and in fact, the company has already said it's working on its next console. In any event, Nishino responded by saying Microsoft trying something new and creating an additional competitive element in the gaming landscape by launching more of its games on rival systems is "healthy and pushes us to innovate."

"There are multiple participants who together drive the overall game industry, and while there are new engagement models being explored, we ultimately think this is a good thing," he said. "However, as I mentioned earlier, we are confident and committed on our current strategy, and there isn't an urgent need for us to pivot. We will continue to monitor play patterns and invest appropriately as required."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

While it's always a good idea to save some cash toward the end of the month, Valve's quarterly Steam sales make it very tempting to dip into those rainy day funds. Fortunately, knowing when these sales will occur has gotten easier over time, as Valve no longer keeps people guessing about the dates.

The company regularly posts the dates far in advance for its sales and promotional events, and for the upcoming Steam Summer Sale 2025, this will kick off on June 26 and runs through July 10.

Beyond that, Valve has also dated several other events for the rest of the year, ranging from a fresh batch of demos being dropped in the October Next Fest to a winter sale starting in December. There'll also be promotions with specific focuses throughout the year, highlighting racing, political simulator, and horror games. Here's the full list of everything on the way.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sony's PS5 console will turn five years old in November, and with an eye on the future, the company recently revealed its thoughts on what's next for PlayStation. During a business presentation hosted by several top Sony executives, president and CEO Hideaki Nishino responded to a query about future PlayStation hardware and if a next-gen PS6 console was even necessary when cloud gaming has improved over the years.

According to Nishino, while cloud gaming is "progressing well from a technical standpoint," certain challenging aspects like end-to-end network stability remain out of Sony's control. Nishino added that cloud-based gameplay is still a viable option for gamers and allows them to access more content, but the "local execution" of games--via physical media or content downloaded directly to console hardware--remains in high demand by the majority of PlayStation gamers.

"Cloud gaming is increasingly providing an additional option for players to access content, but our belief is that the majority of players continue to want to play and experience gaming through local execution without dependency on network conditions," Nishino said. "PS5 and PS5 Pro have validated this thesis, I believe."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Earlier this month, the team behind Halo Infinite embraced nostalgia for the franchise's past by bringing back Grifball, the popular 4 vs. 4 football-like game. Now, Halo Infinite is taking an even deeper dive into the past by revisiting fan-favorite maps from Halo 3. As seen in the launch trailer below, it's like a party from 2007.

Halo Studios has unveiled Infinite's Delta Arena: Halo 3 Legacy Playlist, which should look very familiar to players who experienced the locations the first time. The complete list of Halo 3-inspired maps is below.

• Isolation
• Snowbound
• Guardian
• Narrows
• Construct
• Ghost Town
• Bookmark
• Cold Storage
• Foundry
• The Pit
• High Ground

Additionally, Halo 2's Ivory Tower has been remade for the Halo Infinite Forge. And to recreate the throwback conditions of these maps, sprint and clamber have been disabled, friendly player collision has been restored, jump height has been increased, and all players start with either an MA5K Avenger or BR75 Battle Rifle.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

It looks like GTA 6 could carry forward a feature from GTA 5 with famous real-world artists getting their own in-game radio stations. Rapper Jermaine Dupri said in a new interview with Rory and Mal (via Dexerto) that he's heard that hugely popular rapper Drake "got his own radio station in Grand Theft Auto."

Dupri didn't mention GTA 6 by name, but Drake has never had a radio station in the GTA series before, so it's assumed he was talking about the new game due out next year. Dupri himself said he was asked as well to "do Grand Theft Auto," but he didn't elaborate on if he signed on or not.

Dupri went on to say that GTA 6's Drake radio station will give Drake the ability to upload music that no one has ever heard before, suggesting artists might debut new music inside GTA 6. In addition to Drake, it's been reported that DJ Khaled will have his own in-game radio station in GTA 6 as well.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

The Switch 2 is a hot commodity, including in Japan, where the only way to officially get one of the new consoles is via a lottery, so resellers are having a field day. Some users on Japan's third-party marketplaces have decided to have fun with the situation, putting up parody listings that are probably not the kind of Switch 2 you were looking for.

One recurring joke on marketplaces like Mercari Japan include a play on words in Japanese, IGN reports. Sellers have been listing dual light switches with the description Switch 2-ko, which can be translated to "two switches" in Japanese.

One popular gag listing features a dual light switch made from cardboard, which is nevertheless listed as a Japanese language edition Nintendo Switch 2 at 67,000 yen, around the price that some resellers are listing legitimate Switch 2 consoles. The description repeats the Switch 2-ko wording, with the seller adding that they don't understand how it's meant to be played. Other users in the comments are playing along with the two switches joke, asking the seller to reduce the price on what is supposedly an in-demand console, and even requesting a Switch 3.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Earlier this year, Hideo Kojima admitted that he felt conflicted about the positive reception that Death Stranding 2: On the Beach received from game testers. At the time, Kojima said that he doesn't want to make blockbusters that "need an 80% approval rating" and preferred to remain controversial. Now, Kojima has revisited his comments and explained why he wants a divisive response from players.

While speaking through his interpreter, Kojima Productions' Aki Saito, Kojima told Game Informer that the reason he doesn't want a blockbuster is because those are the kind of games that are easily forgotten. Instead, he wants Death Stranding 2 to withstand the test of time over the next few decades.

"Recently, all the entertainment things are like easy to chew, easy to digest," explained Kojima. "But with Death Stranding, I thought it needs people who love it, and people who don't love it because it's a new thing. It's the same as Metal Gear. It took 10 years until Metal Gear was recognized as a good game. For Death Stranding 2, when I tested it, it wasn't like that. Everyone liked it. That's why I said, 'Maybe this is a problem.' It was more [liked] than my prediction."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Metroidvania titles are as popular as ever, and if you're looking for one to play right now, you've got a free option on Steam for a limited time. Paradox Soul made its debut in 2018, and it's yours for the taking if you grab it fast.

Paradox Soul was developed by Ritual Games and published on Steam by GrabTheGames. The story is set in Iceland in 1987 and it places players in control of Dr. Alli Rose, a research scientist who is exploring a test facility filled with secrets and deadly robot enemies to fight. Much like many of the older video game titles, Paradox Soul's game art doesn't closely resemble the graphics used in the actual gameplay.

Physically, Alli is an ordinary woman, but she can collect suits in the game that upgrade her offensive capabilities, including a Samus Aran-like ball form that Alli can use to attack her foes. The game's description also teases "terrifyingly epic boss fights" and a "hand-crafted labyrinth of evil."

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Sony's live-service game releases haven't all been as successful as Helldivers 2, but despite the failure of Concord and reported struggles with Fairgame$, Sony is pushing ahead and committing to make more live-service games.

PlayStation boss Hermen Hulst said this recently during a Sony business presentation in which he also commented on the company's next big live-service game, Bungie's Marathon, saying he feels optimistic that it won't suffer the same fate as Concord.

As reported by IGN, Hulst said feedback from Marathon's latest alpha test was "varied," but he maintains that the live-service category remains a "great opportunity" for the company. Concord, Hulst said, was "insufficiently differentiated" in a "hyper competitive segment" of gaming, referring to live-service multiplayer games.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

How to Train Your Dragon: Toothless (784 pieces)

$70 | Releases July 1

Preorder at The Lego Store

The live-action adaptation of Dreamwork's How To Train Your Dragon film premiered in theaters this week, and if you're looking to bring some of that fantasy universe to your home, Lego has just the set for you. The company recently revealed a new kit based on Hiccup's best friend Toothless launching July 1, and you can preorder this little replica of the Night-Fury dragon for $70 exclusively through The Lego Store.

How to Train Your Dragon: Toothless (784 pieces) $70 | Releases July 1

This adorable 784-piece Toothless replica stands seven inches tall when completed and features big, expressive eyes and movable head, mouth, tail, and wings. The kit also includes several extra parts and accessories, such as a replacement tail fin, effect parts to simulate his breath attack, and a fishy treat.

Preorder at The Lego Store

This is Lego's only How to Train Your Dragon set announced so far, but if you're looking for more ways to enjoy the fantasy universe, you can always check out the original books and animated films and TV series, too.

If you're looking for other Lego sets, the ever-popular Optimus Prime Lego set has been restocked at multiple major retailers and it has been discounted by 20%. The Autobot leader normally retails for $180, but you can grab him for just $144 right now. You can also pair him with a Lego version of everyone's favorite Cybertronian scout, Bumblebee, which is available for $88.55 at Amazon. Be sure to also check the list below for even more Lego deals available now.

Continue Reading at GameSpot

Back to 2001 to Buy a House is a business simulation game. Players will return to the era when housing prices were very cheap, and use their knowledge to change their destiny. In the era of soaring real estate prices, they make huge profits and use the first pot of gold to become an angel investor and finally realize their ideals in life.

The Alters is an ambitious sci-fi survival game with a unique twist. You play as Jan Dolski, the lone survivor of a crash-landed expedition on a hostile planet. To survive, you must form a new crew for your mobile base. Using a substance called Rapidium, you create alternative versions of Jan - THE ALTERS - each one shaped by a different crucial decision from the protagonist’s past. As you navigate through survival and moral dilemmas, you will explore a branching narrative filled with captivating character dynamics and challenging decisions.

Salvador Bolero welcomes you to No-Pi-Ba-Ca! Nestled in the heart of New Jersey's Pine Barrens, we are a camp retreat for troubled youth. Our unique approach involves counseling children with the aid of survival training in the forest. However, we need your help! The camp is teeming with danger. The Barrens are alive, as animals and insects breed aggressively, posing a threat not just to the children but to the staff as well. That's where you come in, alongside four other camp counselors, to patrol our grounds. Keep the kids safe and maintain order, and we might just make it through the week unscathed... Take charge as freshly-hired camp counselors and rescue campers from natural nasties, supernatural spooks, as well as a mysterious maniac in a retro side-scrolling survival-horror adventure set in the wetlands of New Jersey. Can you uncover the dark secrets lurking within the Pine Barrens?