Category: PlayStation

Fortnite has announced an exciting giveaway for PlayStation Plus members, featuring a new cosmetic bundle known as the “Emerald Gamer.” While free skins are a common occurrence in the game, this particular pack has garnered attention due to its unique design and exclusivity.

July has been a remarkable month for free skins in Fortnite, with players enjoying a variety of promotional cosmetics such as the Blitz Knight, First Order Stormtrooper, and GHOST Monks. Available since July 15, the Emerald Gamer pack includes the stylish emerald-colored Sage skin along with its LEGO Style variant, a themed Snap Axe, and the Silver Mind Back Bling.

Although there is no confirmation on how long the bundle will be available, it is likely to be removed before the next season of Fortnite begins. PlayStation Plus members can easily obtain the Emerald Gamer pack by navigating through the PlayStation Store.

They should select Fortnite, scroll to the Add-Ons section, and find the “Emerald Gamer” Pack to install it. For PlayStation 5 owners, the quickest way to access free bundles is via the “Your Collection” section in the Game Library.

PlayStation 4 users can also retrieve the pack by selecting the game icon on their home screen and choosing the PlayStation Store option to reach the add-ons section. In addition to the Emerald Gamer pack, players should be aware that Fortnite’s Disney promotional cosmetics will expire on August 31.

Players can still unlock the free First Order Stormtrooper skin by linking their Epic Games and MyDisney accounts. Those redeeming a Fortnite gift card before December 31, 2026, will also receive the GHOST Monks skin.

Unfortunately, the Blitz Knight promotion concluded on July 15. As the community eagerly anticipates future free cosmetics, rumors hint at potential collaborations, including a crossover with The Simpsons.

Speculations also suggest partnerships with other fan-favorite animated shows like Family Guy and Bob’s Burgers. Nevertheless, players are advised to take these rumors lightly until official confirmations are made.

PlayStation has announced a restock of its limited-edition 30th Anniversary DualSense controller along with other items from the anniversary collection. Notably, the PS5 Digital console and the PS Portal will also be available. When these special products were first released, many fans missed their chance, but a new opportunity is now available. To celebrate 30 years of the PlayStation brand, Sony unveiled a nostalgic collection featuring PS1-inspired designs in 2024.

The collection boasted special editions of the PS5 Pro and PS5 consoles, along with various controllers and accessories. The 30th Anniversary PS5 Pro sold out immediately, followed by the rest of the collection. Fortunately, Sony is offering a limited restock of some items, although not every player will have access. PlayStation has shared details about upcoming deals on PS5 consoles and accessories, signaling that now is an ideal time for fans to make purchases before prices potentially increase.

The restock of 30th Anniversary products will take place in several regions, including Canada, the UK, Australia, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand, and Japan, but the US is currently not included. Specific dates for restocking vary by region. For instance, in Canada, the restock is set for September 9, with pre-orders beginning on July 23. The UK also sees restocking on September 29, with pre-orders available on the same day at PlayStation Direct.

PS Plus subscribers will get early access for their pre-orders. While fans eagerly await a US restock confirmation, prices for the products are expected to remain consistent with their original launch: $79.99 for the DualSense Wireless Controller, $499.99 for the PS5 Digital Edition Bundle, and $219.99 for the PS Portal. Sony’s proactive approach against scalpers during the initial launch shows their commitment to fair access, and it remains to be seen if similar measures will be implemented again. The 30th Anniversary Edition restock offers another chance for players to enhance their collections, alongside upcoming special editions like the Ghost of Yotei PS5 bundles.

The console wars, once characterized by fierce competition between PlayStation and Xbox, seem to be winding down. On August 26, both gaming giants are set to share their exclusive titles on each other’s platforms.

PlayStation will release the formerly Xbox-exclusive game Helldivers 2, while Xbox will bring the popular franchise Gears of War to the PS5. This remarkable development marks a significant shift in the gaming landscape where rivalry has dominated for so long.

Both consoles have faced different fortunes in recent years. Xbox’s hardware sales have been lagging since the 360 generation and the situation remains unchanged with the Series X/S.

Conversely, PlayStation has thrived with the successful PS4 and PS5, relying heavily on high-quality exclusives to attract gamers. Notably, the trend of cross-platform releases began last year when Xbox started offering its games on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch, a move that has ramped up dramatically as we head into 2025.

The release of Helldivers 2 on Xbox comes as a surprise, especially after Xbox’s earlier successes like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and Forza Horizon 5 on PS5. This shift could suggest that Sony is open to bringing certain multiplayer-focused, live-service titles to the Xbox community.

Meanwhile, Gears of War: Reloaded, debuting on PlayStation, signifies a new era where players from both consoles can connect through cross-play functionality— once thought impossible. As we look ahead, it appears that more Xbox titles may be heading to PS5, including hints at a potential Halo 1 remake.

While the exact future of game sharing remains uncertain, the arrival of Helldivers 2 on Xbox may only be the beginning of a broader trend in the gaming industry. August 26 could indeed be seen as a pivotal moment for cooperation amid long-standing competition.

Recently, several PlayStation 5 users have reported issues with the wishlist feature on the PlayStation Store. Despite a significant upgrade implemented by Sony a few months ago, which raised the wishlist limit from 100 to 188 games, many users find that the feature is malfunctioning on their consoles. In particular, those with wishlists that exceed 100 games encounter blank tiles that fail to load when they attempt to view their lists. The PlayStation Store serves as the largest digital storefront for console gaming, featuring a vast array of titles from both major publishers and independent developers.

Many PS5 users rely on the wishlist to keep track of games they are interested in, making this ongoing issue particularly frustrating for those trying to monitor upcoming releases or take advantage of sales. Interestingly, reports suggest that the wishlist malfunction is primarily confined to the PS5 console interface. Users have noted that their wishlists load correctly on both the PlayStation Store website and the mobile app, which indicates that the trouble lies with the PS5’s user interface. Although some players have found that accessing their wishlist through the Welcome hub widget provides a partial solution, this workaround is inconsistent and not reliable.

As of now, Sony has not officially addressed this bug, leaving users to hope for a timely fix. The wishlist feature is essential for tracking game updates, and the ongoing glitch is a source of annoyance for many. Additionally, the PlayStation Store has faced criticism in recent years for an influx of spam games and low-quality titles, which complicates discoverability and may mislead consumers. As feedback continues to accumulate, it is crucial for Sony to prioritize resolving these issues to enhance the user experience.

PlayStation 5 users have a special chance to earn a unique avatar in celebration of the PlayStation Plus anniversary, lasting until the end of July 2025. This limited offer coincides with the 15th anniversary of Sony’s subscription service, which was celebrated on June 29. Despite recent price hikes, PlayStation Plus is seeing significant growth, particularly in its Premium tier, which has attracted the most new users.

In honor of the anniversary, Sony has introduced a global tournament series known as the PlayStation Plus 15th Anniversary Cup, which will run until July 31. This event features ten games, with the first round—including College Football 25, Fatal Fury: City of the Wolves, EA Sports FC 25, and Mortal Kombat 1—currently underway. Participants who register will receive a complimentary avatar adorned with the PS Plus logo and a “15th Anniversary” tagline set against a backdrop of PlayStation game covers.

The tournament promises several prizes. All participants will receive the commemorative avatar, while additional rewards may vary based on the game and region. Registration for the tournament is conducted through the PS5 Game Hub, with participants expected to be at least 18 years old and hold an active PS Plus membership.

It is important to note that while the subscription is available on PS4, only PS5 owners can participate in the 15th Anniversary Cup. The competition spans multiple regions but is not available in every country, with six missing from the eligible list. The second phase will commence on July 10, featuring popular titles such as Tekken 8 and NBA 2K25, while the final stretch starting July 21 will include College Football 26 and UFC 5.

Participants should keep an eye on system notifications for new rewards, as they must claim them within 30 days after the event concludes.

Steam users from various countries can now access and purchase several popular PlayStation titles without restrictions. This decision follows significant backlash from the gaming community. Notable titles such as Helldivers 2, God of War Ragnarok, The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, and Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 have returned to Steam, allowing fans to engage with them once again. The situation began over a year ago when Helldivers 2 was removed from Steam in 177 countries after its global launch.

The delisting occurred because PlayStation required players to link their PlayStation Network (PSN) accounts to Steam, a service not available in every market that Steam supports. This requirement drew severe criticism from players, leading to negative reviews for several PlayStation games. Consequently, the backlash prompted PlayStation and Arrowhead Game Studios to eliminate the PSN linking necessity for Helldivers 2. Additionally, while The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered originally mandated a PSN account for its multiplayer features on Steam, Sony has since made this requirement optional.

Sony executives have commented on the decision to expand its game availability on other platforms, something many fans have eagerly awaited. As of June 13, restrictions on purchasing Helldivers 2, Marvel’s Spider-Man 2, God of War Ragnarok, and The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered on Steam were lifted, enabling players from previously restricted regions, including Venezuela, Haiti, and Serbia, to access these games without issues. Despite this change, PSN remains unavailable in some regions, although linking PSN and Steam accounts still offers certain advantages. Not all titles have adopted the new policy—Ghost of Tsushima continues to require PSN for its multiplayer features and PlayStation overlay.

This shift in regional policy coincided with a surge in success for PlayStation titles on Steam, particularly evident following the release of Stellar Blade, which attracted over 100,000 concurrent players within its first day. As PlayStation evaluates its approach to live-service titles, it will be interesting to observe how this policy change impacts the sales and player engagement for its games on Steam.

Sony remains confident in its PlayStation strategy despite speculation surrounding Microsoft’s Xbox potentially exiting the console market. A senior official at Sony, Justin Hill, acknowledged that while there are industry shifts affecting competitors like Xbox, the company sees a healthy level of market rivalry as beneficial for innovation.

Microsoft has argued since 2023 that it has lost the console wars, a stance it adopted to support its case for acquiring Activision Blizzard. This narrative, combined with declining Xbox hardware sales, has led some analysts to suggest that Microsoft might leave the console business.

During a recent discussion, Hill raised concerns about these speculations and their implications for PlayStation. SIE President and CEO Hideaki Nishino emphasized that competition is vital for driving innovation within the gaming industry.

Nishino also pointed out that PlayStation’s competition extends beyond Xbox, indicating that multiple participants contribute to the industry’s dynamics. He acknowledged that new engagement models, such as cloud gaming and multi-platform publishing, are emerging trends that Sony is exploring as well.

Despite these developments, he stated that there is no immediate need for Sony to change its strategy based on what Xbox might do in the future. Insider reports suggest that Microsoft plans at least one more generation of Xbox consoles, regardless of current market challenges.

This next-generation device is expected to bridge the gap between consoles and PCs. Some reports indicate a launch timeframe for Microsoft’s new console in 2028, while Sony is reportedly gearing up for a late 2025 release for the PS6’s chipset.

This could mean the next generation of consoles may arrive as early as late 2027, intensifying the competition in the gaming landscape.