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Microsoft Predicts Sub-$300 MSRP for Sony's Project Q Handheld

Stephen Totilo, a writer for the gaming section of Axios, has uncovered an intriguing tidbit from Microsoft's Federal Trade Commission (FTC) court documents. He injected some humor into this finding and posted on Twitter: "Microsoft's lawyers with some Project Q hype." According to the legal team's footnotes: "Sony is also anticipated to release a handheld version of PlayStation 5 later this year for under $300." The handheld gaming device was first revealed during late May's PlayStation Showcase, but teaser material only revealed a small number of details.

Sony indicated that Project Q will feature a 1920 x 1080 display (with a max. 60 Hz refresh) and in-built WiFi connectivity that allows the user to stream games from a host PlayStation 5 system. Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson has gathered information from company sources since that showcase, and proposed that the device can only sustain 3-4 hour play times. He also proposed that Sony should seriously consider launching the device at a low price of $200, given the handheld's alleged limited function as Remote Play-only. It is odd that Microsoft's legal representatives think that Project Q will act as a highly portable PlayStation 5 console, but they likely did not pay attention to the limited details available to them.

LeBron James Limited Edition PlayStation 5 Accessories Arriving July 27

From Akron to the global stage, LeBron James continues to inspire the world with his tireless work ethic, championship spirit and remarkable achievements on the court and in his community. Today, we're excited to share details on how players in select markets can secure our first design collaboration with LeBron and the first ever limited-edition PlayStation accessories co-designed with a cultural icon.

Featuring elements inspired by LeBron's love for gaming and community, the LeBron James Limited Edition PS5 accessories are a true passion project co-created with LeBron. With memorable phrases such as, "Nothing is given. Everything is earned," the accessories feature personal imagery and adages that have been meaningful throughout LeBron's journey as a game-changing athlete, global inspiration for millions, and PlayStation Playmaker.

Sony and Zoom Bringing Video Communication to BRAVIA TVs

Sony has announced that Zoom Video Communications, Inc. will be coming to Sony's BRAVIA TVs that are compatible with BRAVIA CAM. This partnership will allow users to easily connect with friends, family, and colleagues for video calls and meetings from the comfort of their living room. Sony's BRAVIA is the first TV brand to support the Zoom for TV app on Google Play Store.

With Zoom on BRAVIA TVs, users will be able to take advantage of all the features that make Zoom one of the leading video communication platform. This includes video communication on a TV screen, screen sharing, and collaboration tools. Users will also be able to use BRAVIA CAM's advanced features - it recognizes where you are in the room and how far you are from the TV, then adjusts sound and picture settings so they're just right. All of that is possible with a very simple setup - when using a compatible TV with a BRAVIA CAM, it only takes downloading the Zoom app from Google Play and launching it with the TV's remote.

Sony WF-1000XM5's Charging Case Info Revealed by Database

Renders and basic specifications for Sony's rumored WF-1000XM4 successor were leaked earlier this month, with some sources theorizing that Sony would be unveiling the next-generation TWS earbuds within days. An official announcement did not come to pass, but details and a (top-down view) photo of the WF-1000XM5's charging case have emerged from an independent testing database—the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC). Tipsters reckon that the WF-1000XM5 buds will be smaller and lighter than predecessors—perhaps closer in size to Sony's cheaper TWS offering, the WF-C700N—and leaked specifications indicate that the new model is not a massive departure from the XM4, although multi-point connectivity looks to be standard at launch.

The WPC's online certification page lists model number YY2963, which is identical to an FCC registration from February. The June 9th entry states that it is a "wireless stereo headset," with a carry/charging case classed as a "Power Class 0 Receiver" offering 2 W maximum input. A low quality photo of this earbud cradle is included on the WPC web page—Sony's new unit looks almost identical to the WF-1000XM4 enclosure. Qi wireless charging is very likely part of the package, but the next-gen solution might not be much of an upgrade. Insiders have reassessed the situation, and now propose that Sony is planning on a July or August reveal for the the 1000XM5.

Marvel's Spider-Man 2 Launches October 20, Exclusively on PlayStation 5

Everyone at Insomniac Games is thrilled to announce that Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will launch on Friday, October 20th, 2023, only on PlayStation 5. After the amazing fan reception for Marvel's Spider-Man in 2018 and Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales in 2020, the team has worked tirelessly over the past few years to make this third installment in the franchise the sequel you have been waiting for. Built from the ground up for PlayStation 5 console, Marvel's Spider-Man 2 will unlock the power of the console with better visuals, faster web swinging (and web wings!), 3D Audio, and near-instant character switching. We speak for all our collaborators and friends at PlayStation and Marvel Games, when we say that we cannot wait for you to get your hands on this incredible single-player open-world experience.

In Marvel's Spider-Man 2, players will get to experience Marvel's New York as both Peter Parker and Miles Morales. As you saw in the PlayStation Showcase last month - the main storyline of the game will have you take control of both Spider-Men at different points of the campaign. In the open world, you will be able to switch nearly instantly between them as you explore Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn. Both Spider-Men have stories and missions in the world exclusive to each of them.

Sony Announces LYTIA 50-Megapixel Mobile Image Sensor Lineup

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) this week announced that it will ship a new line of LYTIA brand products, primarily 50-megapixel models, this fiscal year. LYTIA is the new product brand of image sensors for mobile devices developed by SSS. SSS has leveraged its imaging and sensing technologies to bring value to the market in a variety of ways and deliver a richer imaging experience to users. SSS is expanding its high-quality products under the LYTIA brand so that more users in the mobile market can benefit from its commitment to imaging as they use smartphones to capture images. The first step in this initiative is expanding the line of 50-megapixel products, as it is the most versatile resolution for use in current mobile applications.

More and more people today are using smartphones to enjoy imaging on a daily basis, and the way they use cameras are also diversifying with more and more smartphones coming with multiple built-in cameras. SSS plans to contribute to enhanced imaging experiences with LYTIA products that accommodate diverse shooting scenes and purposes.

Sony Announces New PS VR2 Games - Tiger Blade, Wanderer, Pixel Ripped 1995 & The 7th Guest VR

Today, we're happy to announce four new titles making their way onto PS VR2 in the near future. Below you can enjoy the reveal trailers plus additional details about new games such as Pixel Ripped 1995, Tiger Blade and 7th Guest VR, plus get the first look at the PS VR2 debut of the critically acclaimed Wanderer: The Fragments of Fate. These four join the ever growing PS VR2 lineup, which includes games like recently launched action rhythm title Beat Saber and upcoming games like mind-bending sci-fi shooter Synapse, horror-fueled Resident Evil 4 VR, and other new additions announced at last month's PlayStation Showcase.

Unsure what to play next? Remember there are many demos and trials of games on PlayStation Store, including Horizon Call of The Mountain, Resident Evil Village, Star Wars: Tales from the Galaxy's Edge and more. Without further ado, let's introduce the new games and let their creators share more details:

Sony Adding PS5 Titles to PlayStation Plus Library

Nick Maguire, VP of Global Services, Global Sales and Business Operations at SIE states: "A year has flown by so quickly since we rolled out our new PlayStation Plus tiered plans, ushering in new benefits to the service such as our Game Catalog and Classics Catalog, along with Game Trials for blockbuster titles. Whether you subscribe to PlayStation Plus Essential, Extra or Premium/Deluxe, it's been great to see the positive feedback we've gotten from players around the world for the quality titles that we offer monthly. Today, we're celebrating this wonderful milestone with 10 days of activities for the PlayStation community. It's also our way of saying thanks to players everywhere for supporting us in this new era for PlayStation Plus.

First off, we have very exciting news for PlayStation Plus Premium members. We're currently testing cloud streaming for supported PS5 games - this includes PS5 titles from the PlayStation Plus Game Catalog and Game Trials, as well as supported digital PS5 titles that players own. When this feature launches, cloud game streaming for supported PS5 titles will be available for use directly on your PS5 console. That means as a Premium member, it'll be easier to jump into your favorite games without downloading them first onto your PS5 console. Our goal is to add this as an additional benefit to PlayStation Plus Premium as part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the value of PlayStation Plus."

Final Fantasy XVI Special Battle Demo Available Now

Final Fantasy XVI fans, great news: while Final Fantasy XVI launches in just under two weeks, you'll be able to commence your journey to Valisthea tomorrow as the game's demo launches today (June 12). The demo will give PlayStation 5 players a taste of the game's vibrant world and fast-paced action combat with two lengthy sections showcasing what you can expect from FFXVI. The first is the game's opening prologue, approximately a two and half hour slice of gameplay giving players insight into Clive Rosfield's past and the events that set him on his present day journey. Save data from this portion can be carried over to the main game when it launches next week.

Completing the prologue then unlocks a special battle demo, approximately a two-hour, action-heavy segment. This features an infiltration of a fort at night, with Clive supported on his mission by his faithful wolf Torgal and Cidolfus Telamon. You'll encounter various enemies and epic bosses. While you won't be able to save your progress in this segment of the demo, it will let you test out the fuller range of combat options by way of numerous unlocked abilities and accessories. This can be replayed as many times as you'd like, giving players a head start on experiencing Clive's full-fledged action battles. Need a primer? Get an idea of what to expect here.

Sony WF-1000XM5 Renders Leaked

Leaked information suggests that Sony will be announcing its brand new WF-1000XM5 later this week - but an imminent official unveiling has been preempted by renders of these next-generation TWS earbuds appearing online, as well as basic specification details scraped from retail sources. WinFuture.de has published preview product images showing a standard black model as well as a silver set - both units seem to sport a nice mixture of gloss and matte finishes. The Walkman Blog has acquired a very low quality shot of the black variant's buds floating outside of their charging cradle.

The Walkman Blog's Ascariss has managed to glean some WF-1000XM5 info: "The specifications are rather general and nothing specific, pretty much identical to the current model (XM4). The battery life seems to be the same - (if accurate) this would be unfortunate. The table does provide the weight of the earbuds and case, which is 5.9 grams per earbud and 39 grams for the case. This makes the WF-1000XM5 case 2 grams lighter, and each earbud 1.4 grams lighter compared to the WF-1000X4. Apart from that, the table confirms multi-point support." He also proposes that the upcoming earbuds are smaller than the preceding model - with dimensions closer to Sony's recently launched WF-C700N. Ascariss finds this cheaper set much more comfortable for long listening sessions, and easier to fit when compared to the flagship WF-1000X4.

Sony Boss Thinks PlayStation Division is Capable of Taking on Cloud Gaming Challenges

Kenichiro Yoshida, the chief executive at Sony Corporation has recently sat down with the Financial Times for an interview discussing his company's plans for the future. He touched upon his PlayStation division's early experiments in the cloud gaming sector - arch rival Microsoft has already carved out a strong position here with its Xbox Game Pass subscription service. Yoshida-san discussed numerous issues (latency is major point of contention) that the Sony gaming arm continues to battle with, but the team will persevere: "I think cloud itself is an amazing business model, but when it comes to games, the technical difficulties are high...so there will be challenges to cloud gaming, but we want to take on those challenges."

Sony has looked at competitors in order to learn lessons in advance - most notably in the area of high and low traffic periods: "The dark time for cloud gaming had been an issue for Microsoft as well as Google (with their now defunct Stadia platform), but it was meaningful that we were able to use those (quieter) hours for AI learning." stated Yoshida. The company has been figuring out ways to get the most out of idle/low activity cloud gaming periods - an AI agent called GT Sophy has been tasked with figuring out ways to beat human opponents during periods of low activity.

Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart PC Port Arriving on July 26

Julian Huijbregts, Online Community Specialist at Nixxes Software states: "Hey everyone, the intergalactic adventurers Ratchet & Clank are making their debut on PC this summer! At Nixxes Software, we are all very excited to announce our next project in collaboration with Insomniac Games. The Ratchet & Clank franchise recently celebrated its 20th anniversary. We are thrilled and honored to bring this iconic franchise to a new audience. If you haven't played a game from this series before, Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart is an excellent one to start with.

The game is a visual spectacle that is perfectly suitable for newcomers thanks to a standalone storyline and the introduction of two brand new characters: Rivet & Kit. We can't wait for you to meet these intergalactic heroes and start your multidimensional adventure when the game launches on July 26. Today I can share the first details on the PC features for Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart that our team has been working on and tell you more about the pre-purchase bonuses."

Sony PlayStation "Project Q" Handheld Battery Life Reported to be 3-4 Hours

Insider Gamer's past predictions about a Remote Play-enabled PlayStation handheld rang true last week when Sony announced Project Q - teaser material points to this fancy accessory integrating into the PS5 ecosystem. Technical details were not explored in any depth during last week's Sony showcase, but it is clear that the controller and 8-inch screen combo will be capable of streaming content via WiFi from a host PS5 console.

Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson has gathered more details from his inside sources, and released leaked information about the remote play device's operation time on a single charge (late last week): "Prepare yourselves, because Insider Gaming understands that the Project Q battery life will be around 3-4 hours. Yup, you read that right. At least Project Q is on brand with the DualSense having a short battery life, I guess. If the retail version of Project Q does indeed have a 3-4 hour battery life, then the handheld might be a hard sell for Sony. Already people are skeptical of its success, with the handheld only being used with Remote Play." Henderson has been informed that the accessory is slated for a November launch, but he opines that Sony should carefully consider their pricing strategy in the interim: "Ultimately though, I think the success of Project Q will depend on its price. A $200 or less price tag could see the accessory sell in strong numbers, but PlayStation has been notorious for having high price tags on its products."

Bungie Resurrects Marathon - Reimagined as a PvP Extraction Shooter

Today we showed Bungie fans worldwide a glimpse of our future at the PlayStation Showcase, in the forms of two major game announcements. First up, we officially announced Marathon to the world! This is the first completely new project from Bungie in more than a decade. Marathon is a sci-fi PvP extraction shooter where players will embody cybernetic mercenaries known as Runners. Exploring a lost colony on the mysterious planet of Tau Ceti IV, Runners - working solo or as part of three-person crews - will fight for survival, for riches, and for fame.

We're incredibly excited to announce the game and to share our vision for the future. We know that you are curious to know more, and we will have much to say in the future. For now, know that Marathon is currently in development on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC, featuring cross save and cross play. Check out the Marathon site to learn more about the game and follow Marathon on social media (Twitter, Facebook, YouTube) to stay up to date. Below, don't miss a Q&A with Marathon General Manager Scott Taylor and Game Director Christopher Barrett, where they discuss debuting Marathon to the world.

PlayStation VR2 Outsold Original PSVR In First Six Weeks

Sony revealed in a presentation now posted online that PlayStation VR2 excelled in sales in its first six weeks, outselling the original PlayStation VR in the same six week period after launch. The figure that Sony posted was just under 600,000 units, a far cry from an analyst estimate at the end of March that they would only ship 270,000 units by that point. By contrast the original PS VR sold close to 500,000 units in its launch period. PlayStation VR2 has received generally positive reviews for its visual fidelity, accurate tracking, and excellent controllers. The $550 USD price has been a point of contention, with a price drop initially expected after the negative third party sales reports. However it is now expected that the price will remain unchanged after what Sony has described as a, "strong PlayStation VR2 launch."

With a launch lineup of only 42 games, Sony and partnering studios have been hard at work adding more games to the VR library with the list expanding to 112 as of announcements at the most recent PlayStation Showcase. Many older PS VR games are still not ported to PS VR2 though various developers have stated intentions to do so, and new titles yet to be fully announced are still in the works suggesting strong support for the new generation headset.

Sony Reveals Project Q for the PS5, Alongside new Playstation Earbuds

Sony has showed off some new accessories for the Playstation 5 during the PlayStation Showcase event and the most interesting one goes under the internal development name of Project Q. The device is pretty much a dual sense wireless controller that has been split in half and each half has been strapped to either side of an 8-inch HD display. Sony didn't go into much in terms of technical details, beyond that Project Q will have built in WiFi for streaming games from the PS5. The display will support 1920 x 1080 resolution at 60 Hz, which is most likely not what most potential buyers were hoping for.

Sony also showed off a pair of new PS5 branded earbuds, which the company says will be compatible not only with the PS5, but also PCs and other mobile devices, courtesy of Bluetooth 5.3 multipoint support. Sony is also promising some new type of wireless technology here which the company claims will deliver lossless audio that is said to deliver outstanding sound quality and low latency audio. Sony didn't reveal when either device will be available, but promised to release more details "soon".

[Editor's note: Updated with a snippet from the official press release below]

Sony Could Offload Parts of its Financial Group, Exploring Heavier Investments in Entertainment

Sony Group Corporation is reported to be considering a partial spinoff and listing of its financial services division, in order to raise capital for further investments in its entertainment arm and next generation image sensor technologies. Reuters has published details from a corporate strategy meeting that took place last week (on May 18) - executives at the Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation are contemplating the future of Sony Financial Group. This arm of the business is comprised of several subdivisions including a bank and an insurance firm. Sony Corporation managed to gain full control of these finance organizations three years ago, according to Reuters.

Sony is seeking to retain a stake of just below 20%, and posits that its financial businesses will gain the ability (following the suggested partial spinoff and listing) to raise cash independently for sustainable growth. The company hopes to provide extra funds for its entertainment and semiconductor operations that "need an unprecedented amount of investment." The PlayStation group is aiming to ramp up production of its PS5 console - supply chain problems have caused delays and unit shortages in the past, and Sony is keen to build on the gaming platform's success, without restrictions going forward. The company is keen to advance its camera parts division - in order to meet increasing market demand for smartphone and vehicle sensor components. Hiroki Totoki (President of Sony Group Corp) emphasized that greater investments in these sectors will allow the company to stay competitive large global rivals.

Sony Sticking With PC Release Strategy According to PlayStation CEO, Planning More PS5 Exclusives

Jim Ryan, the current President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, has once again confirmed his company's committal to staggering the launch of PlayStation ports onto the PC platform. Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu published an interview last week, and western news outlets have spent time over the past weekend translating and analyzing this article. The contents/discussion focuses mostly on Sony Corporation's strategies for its PlayStation 5 console in their native market. Ryan addresses the interviewer's question about the growing popularity of gaming on PCs in Japan (the nation has historically favored home console platforms): "I think that's a very good thing. When considering the multifaceted development of game IP, PCs are indispensable for allowing more people to enjoy games in a variety of ways. I think (that) more is better."

Ryan was asked about the possibility of simultaneous first-party game launches on PS5 and PC platforms in the future - his answer points to the company not deviating from its normal operating strategy: "We also fully understand the importance of PS5 exclusive titles. As I mentioned earlier, PlayStation Studios' main responsibility is to make games for the latest PlayStation hardware that players will enjoy. We are increasing the number of PS5 exclusive games, and staggering the release of the PC versions." Ryan claims to have received positive feedback from gamers about this matter: "I often have the opportunity to ask game fans for their opinions, and when I ask them how they feel about the time lag, they often say they feel the release of a PC version two or three years after the release of the PlayStation version is acceptable. It's a community that we should cherish the most. We will continue to listen to the voices of game fans and develop various titles in a multifaceted manner."

BenQ Launches the ideaCam Webcam with 15x Zoom Lens Attachment

As remote work and learning continue to transform daily lives, the demand for high-quality webcams has never been greater. Recognizing the need for versatile and high-resolution video capabilities among creative professionals, BenQ is proud to introduce the BenQ ideaCam, a specialized multi-mode desktop webcam designed specifically for creators and makers.

The BenQ ideaCam revolutionizes the creative possibilities with its four shooting modes: Portrait, Desk View, Handheld, and Macro. While the Portrait mode provides a familiar webcam experience, Desk View enables effortless display of objects or documents on the desktop. The intelligent auto-flip feature seamlessly transitions between Portrait and Desk View modes, automatically rotating and focusing the image. Handheld mode offers unique camera angles and immersive close-ups, while the magnetic Macro lens provides detailed magnification of 15 times.

Guerrilla Games Celebrates Horizon Forbidden West 8.4 Million Unit Sales, Franchise Total Hits 32.7 Million

Guerrilla Games is celebrating its 20th anniversary as a AAA games developer, and has marked the occasion by releasing a very thorough story on the official PlayStation blog as well as an accompanying video (see below). The introduction states: "From our early days with Killzone to the growth of our studio with Horizon, we're grateful you've been on this journey with us so far. Thank you for an incredible 20 years." The first-party Sony PlayStation development studio has risen from humble origins prior to 2003 - as a producer of third-party Nintendo Game Boy titles under the guise of a smaller outfit called the "Lost Boys." The Dutch team had to step up their game in order to embrace the power offered by current-gen consoles at the time: "The year we formed Guerrilla, 2003, was an interesting time for gaming. The PlayStation 2 had launched three years earlier to critical acclaim. People were losing their minds over the technological feats being achieved with all the power it offered (six whole GFLOPS!)."

After working on the very successful Killzone first-person shooter franchise for over a decade, Guerrilla Games decided to move onto the creation of a new I.P - Horizon - and plenty of successful milestones, both critical and financial, have been reached since "Zero Dawn" debuted on the PlayStation 4 back in the Spring of 2017: "As of April 16, 2023, the Horizon franchise has sold through more than 32.7 million units worldwide, of which Horizon Forbidden West has sold through over 8.4 million units. Millions more around the world have discovered Horizon thanks to PlayStation's subscription services and initiatives, including PlayStation Plus, and Play at Home. All told, it's a milestone we never imagined possible twenty years ago when we first started making games."

Insider Claims Sony Prepping PlayStation 5 "Pro" Dev Kits for First Party Teams

A couple of TPU readers will be happy to learn of more rumors relating to Sony's "in the works" PlayStation 5 Pro model - following on from last week's news about about a possible interim modular model - and curious commenters asking for additional information. Insider Gaming's Tom Henderson has been a notorious source of PS5-related leaks for a while - the aforementioned modular console variant has been leading topic for the guy and today he provides a small update on the matter: "You're probably already sick of hearing about the new PlayStation 5 with a detachable disc drive that should release later this year. Although reports have dubbed the new PlayStation 5 as the PS5 Slim, Insider Gaming understands that the console will be almost identical to the PlayStation 5 but feature a detachable disc drive. In fact, it's understood that the new PlayStation 5 will completely phase out the old design within a year."

His newly reformed and theorized PlayStation future timeline also contains an update about the PlayStation 5's "Pro" refresh - Sony is rumored to preparing this more powerful hardware variant for a Q4 2024 launch and Henderson insists that his past findings have been consistent and on point: "Our report in March was dismissed as being inaccurate by many when it was first reported and although the PlayStation 5 Pro could be canceled at any given time, Insider Gaming can report with a 100% degree of certainty that the PlayStation 5 Pro is currently in development." He claims that his industry sources have provided him with fresh batches of evidence: "Whilst we cannot report on any more specifics at this time, we understand that the first dev kit prototypes will be going to 1st party developers within the next couple of months, with 3rd party developers receiving them by the end of the year." Sony, Microsoft and Nintendo are normally very guarded about development and prototype hardware, so very few developers (with access to these bits of kit) have been brave enough to break signed NDAs. Sony has once again chosen to be extremely secretive - no official information has been released about upcoming refreshed PS5 consoles or related accessories.

Sony and Square Enix Unveil Final Fantasy XVI Themed PS5 DualSense Controller and Console Faceplate

Sony PlayStation and Square Enix are engaged in the process of hyping up blockbuster action role-player Final Fantasy XVI, set for a worldwide release on June 22, and have recently announced some visually striking accessories and interesting hardware bundles - as part of the promotional cycle and eventual release of the sixteenth (mainline) Final Fantasy game installment. Their Japanese marketing teams are collaborating on a custom design PlayStation 5 DualSense controller and console faceplate/cover bearing Final Fantasy XVI-based artwork. The controller's Midnight Black + gold accenting combo creates a very macho aesthetic, which stands in sharp contrast to some of the recent special edition Xbox controllers in terms of color and finish.

The special edition controller and console plate will be sold separately and are scheduled to launch alongside the game and related console bundles on June 22. These Final Fantasy XVI-themed accessories could be exclusive to the Japanese domestic market - Sony and Square Enix have issued information related to pricing in Yen (¥8980 & ¥7980 respectively), and their North American and European sites only make mention of the standard white PS5 console FFXVI bundle being available on the game's launch day.

Sony Sold 6.3 Million PS5s Last Quarter and 19.1 Million Units During FY22

Sony has had a very good year when it comes to PlayStation 5 sales, as the company sold no less than 19.1 million units in FY22, which exceeded the forecasted volume of 18 million units by a fair margin. Sony's financial year runs from April to March, so the first three months of 2023 was the last three months of its FY22, during which the company sold no less than 6.1 million consoles. That's up from a mere two million units in the last quarter of FY21, which is no small increase and shows the popularity of the PS5. Sony also mentioned that they've caught up with demand and are able to deliver PS5s to customers without the need to pre-order or having to wait for their orders to arrive, in almost all locations globally. As for FY23, Sony is hoping to sell even more consoles, with a target of 25 million units. To date, Sony has sold around 38.4 million PlayStation 5 consoles.

That said, it's not all good news, as game sales were down from US$70.5 million to US$68 million a year ago quarter to quarter and dropped from 303.2 million to 264.2 million FY21 vs FY22. Sony also lost some four million users of its PlayStation Network service, but the company saw a slight increase in its PS Plus subscription base. Sony saw a boost in revenue in its Gaming and Networking Services business unit from US$4.9 billion in FY21 to US$7.9 billion in FY22. As a whole, Sony had sales of some US$29 billion, or 3.9 trillion Yen if you prefer, despite struggling with a weak Yen vs. the US Dollar.

Sony Patent Suggests External Optical Disc Drive Prepped for Modular PS5 Refresh

Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a patent that is now viewable to the public - as spotted by SegmentNext today - and the newly registered device could be designed to function as part of an updated variant of the PlayStation 5 home video game console. The 2020-era patent document showcases a type of detachable optical disc drive, and industry experts reckon that this mountable media reading device is destined, following past rumors, to feature in an upcoming PlayStation 5 hardware revision.

No reference is made to Sony's popular gaming console within the patent filing, but it is highly likely that the new optical drive will factor into the refreshed console's modular makeup - its overall shape shares design aesthetics with the PS5. Sony currently offers customers two variants of the PlayStation 5 - the more advanced model is fitted with an internal 4K Blu-Ray compatible disc drive, while the other one functions as a purely digital download device. The modular revamp is expected to arrive later this year, in a more compact form factor that industry insiders have called "D chassis" - it is not known whether this variant will outright replace the older models. A more powerful PlayStation 5 "Pro" model is expected to arrive after the modular redesign, with tipsters pointing to a launch window in mid-to-late 2024.

Horizon Forbidden West Sequel Confirmed by Leadership at Guerrilla Games Studio

A very plain reading statement was released by the management team at Guerrilla Games Studio this morning, and within the weeds of pivotal reorganization talk an intriguing tidbit has been found. This information points to the Amsterdam powerhouse video game developer working on a new entry in its Horizon series: "We have full confidence in our new leadership as they steer Guerrilla towards a bright future, expanding the world of Horizon with Aloy's next adventure and our exciting online project. Michiel van der Leeuw (Technical Director) will be focusing on the future technology and strategy for the Decima engine." It is presently unclear whether there is any crossover between the next Horizon game and hinted interweb-based multiplayer project.

This is not a major surprise given that the Dutch studio has done well for itself with previous Horizon games - both in terms of financial success and critical perception, although older PlayStation fans have been clamoring for a new entry in the Killzone series. The Burning Shores expansion campaign for Horizon Forbidden West was released last week, and the development is seemingly set for something new (beyond converting the title to a PC platform). The Sony-owned development studio is undergoing a change in management, and today's company statement details a shift around at the executive level.

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