PlayStation 5 ad glitch sparks backlash from gamers

The news: Sony PlayStation 5 (PS5) owners have reported frustrating issues with outdated advertisements appearing on their home screens. The ads showed up when users hovered over a game title and could only be removed by disconnecting consoles from the internet.

Public fallout from users prompted a response from Sony, which said the issue was being resolved and that it was due to a “tech error with the Official News feature on the PS5.” Still, the incident raised concerns about the proliferation of ads on video games.

When ads take over the gaming experience: While two-thirds of gamers surveyed by Comscore’s 2024 State of Gaming Report said ads don’t adversely affect their gaming experience, pervasive advertising could sour customer sentiment.

"Behind the Numbers" Podcast