Latest Playstation Game News & Updates
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🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformUnsurprisingly, It’s PlayStation, Not You, Benefiting From Tariff Refunds
US tariffs may have forced Sony to increase the prices of its PlayStation hardware, but the company is now benefiting from those tariffs being refunded. As part of the company's latest earnings report, it noted an increase in operating income can be attributed in part to tariff refunds(https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/library/presen/er/pdf/26q1sonypre.pdf)--refunds it seems unlikely to pass onto consumers who paid those higher prices. Those refunds were issued earlier this year after the US Supreme court declared tariffs implemented by President Trump to be unlawful. Sony's Q1 2026 earnings (covering April through June) call out tariff refunds as one of the positive contributors to a 37% increase that its Game & Network Services business saw. Shortly after the tariffs were first implemented, Sony raised the price of its PS5 consoles in August 2025(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-price-hikes-announced-for-the-us-every-system-going-up-by-50/1100-6534127/), and again in May 2026(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-price-increase-confirmed-by-sony-amid-market-pressures/1100-6539060/). The company has not issued an official statement regarding any potential passing of the refunds back to consumers, and earlier this year, a class-action-complaint(https://dockets.justia.com/docket/california/candce/3:2026cv04121/469489) was filed. The plaintiffs are arguing that Sony passed the cost of its price hikes onto consumers, and if the nationwide class suit is successful, Sony would be required to pay an undisclosed sum to anyone who purchased a PlayStation console from August 1, 2025. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Sony-tariffs.jpg?w=636) Although Sony has not explicitly said it will not share tariff refunds with consumers who paid higher prices, we've already seen Nintendo and others retain those refunds for themselves. Sony calling out the positive impact on its operating income also suggests no plan to pass along those refunds. It's worth noting that Sony has never mentioned the US tariffs as the sole reason for the console price hikes, as it referenced "pressures in the global economic landscape" as the reason for the last price increase. The ongoing RAM shortage driven by large-scale investment in AI and data centers has also been a key factor in console price increases. Xbox manufacturer Microsoft explained that it had to enact another price hike in June(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-is-increasing-the-cost-of-xbox-consoles-again-starting-in-august/) because console storage and memory prices had more than doubled, and it also expects another doubling of component prices(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/xbox-may-have-another-price-hike-up-its-sleeve-in-2027/) in 2027, suggesting more price hikes will follow soon after. This probably sounds familiar, as a class action lawsuit(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-sued-by-fans-who-want-tariff-refunds/1100-6539543/) was filed in April 2026 on behalf of Nintendo consumers. The plaintiffs are arguing that Nintendo had an obligation to refund customers who purchased its products, following its decision to claim refunds on the tariffs. In a reply, Nintendo disputed the claims(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-will-not-refund-tariff-fees-it-passed-onto-customers-saying-they-received-exactly-what-they-bargained-and-paid-for/) and said that customers were never forced to make a purchase and that it didn't raise the price of all of its products. "Those who bought Nintendo's products received exactly what they bargained and paid for: a console, game and/or accessory at a price to which both parties agreed," Nintendo wrote. In more Sony news, the ratio of physical-to-digital game sales increased last quarter(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-latest-ps5-sales-data-shows-digital-pulling-even-further-ahead/), PS5 console sales are slowly creeping(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-is-closing-in-on-100-million-sales-but-its-losing-ground-to-the-ps4/) toward the 100 million lifetime sales mark, and Sony has broken its silence(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-defends-going-digital-but-says-it-understands-players-love-of-physical-ps5-games/) over its decision to go all-digital with game sales in 2028.
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile, VR, PCMerge A Black Hole codes
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/merge-a-blackhole-codes.jpg?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Last updated: 31st July, 2026 - Added new Merge A Black Hole codes! If you've ever wanted to play Suika(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/suika) game, but instead of cute anthropomorphic fruit, you were splicing together all-consuming black holes, Merge A Black Hole is for you. This tycoon game is all about glueing together space matter to make the most terrifying celestial entities possible and then launching them like warheads at your rivals' bases. But building up your collection of world-destroying space weapons can be arduous, and luckily, the game features redeemable codes to make it a touch less time-consuming. Entering these codes gives you a bunch of goodies, including Stars, Spins and cash. So, if you want to stock up on some useful resources, here's all of the active Merge A Black Hole codes. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/merge-a-black-hole-codes)
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformSony’s Latest PS5 Sales Data Shows Digital Pulling Even Further Ahead
Sony's plans to embrace an all-digital future(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) are starting to gain ground, as the company has confirmed that 82% of all PS5 games, microtransactions, and DLC from Q1 2026--covering April 1 to June 30--were sold digitally. This is an increase of the previous ratio of digital games sold across the entire 2025 financial, which averaged 78%. It is worth noting that each quarter in that period had different numbers--83% in Q1 2025 FY, 72% in Q2, 76% in Q3, and 85% in Q4--so there's still plenty of time to see what the average ratio is when the next three quarters are added in. That quarter also saw several big games launch for PS5, such as Starfield, Saros, and 007 First Light. While the numbers point toward the inevitability of a digital-only games marketplace future for PlayStation, a section of the playerbase is still aiming to convince Sony to reverse course and keep offering physical games to some extent. Sony's social platforms have been under siege(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/over-220000-people-petition-sony-not-to-kill-physical-playstation-game-discs/) from a dedicated number of people who reply to every post with calls to keep physical games alive, and a week-long boycott of the company will kick off later in August. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PS5-sales-hardware.jpg?w=636) Will those initiatives help? Probably not, as Sony says that it will still "cautiously" move forward with its plans, but it is aware of the strong emotional connection that people have with physical media. Sony CFO Lin Tao said during a Q&A investors meeting that the "digitalization of content" has been steadily progressing and that Sony won't be doing a U-turn. Sony also stands to gain financially(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-sony-killing-discs-its-all-about-profitability-and-control-expert-says/) from the decision, as it'll earn 100% of the profits from sales of its first-party game. With physical sales of third-party PS5 games also coming to an end in 2028, the company can also claim a cut of those sales when people purchase games through its online marketplace. In other news from Sony's Q1 report, PS5 sales are slowly closing in on the 100 million lifetime sales milestone, monthly active user numbers are up, and company profits are up despite game sales remaining flat, thanks to tariff refunds and favorable exchange rates.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformPS5 Is Closing In On 100 Million Sales, But It’s Losing Ground To The PS4
Sony is starting to feel the pinch of console price hikes, as the last quarter--April 1 to June 30 of 2026--saw the company sell 1.6 million PS5s, a slight increase when compared to the previous quarter that saw 1.5 million consoles sold. That's a steep decline of 36%(https://www.sony.com/en/SonyInfo/IR/library/presen/er/pdf/26q1sonypre.pdf) when compared to the same period in 2025, and so far, PS5 lifetime sales have reached 95.3 million units sold. In comparison, the PS4 had moved 100.2 million units by the same point in its lifecycle, albeit with the help of regular discounts and the MSRP of the system decreasing over time. The PS5 hasn't enjoyed the same benefits as its predecessor, as the ongoing shortage of RAM and other crucial components has resulted in PS5 console prices increasing(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ps5-xbox-and-switch-2-heres-how-their-prices-have-changed-since-launch/) instead of decreasing, a first for PlayStation hardware. Sony noted that revenue from hardware sales is also down by almost 10%, while software unit sales are up from 65.9 million to 66.1 million, year-on-year. Despite its decision to end PS5 disc production being met with almost-universal backlash, digital game sales also increased from 78% to 82% during Q1. !(https://www.gamespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/PS5-business-2026.jpg?w=636) Monthly active user numbers are also up by 2 million, with Sony recording 125 million people using its services. Overall, sales are holding steady across game and network divisions, but profits did increase by 37% thanks mostly to US tariff refunds and favorable exchange rates. Nintendo also benefited from tariff refunds(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/nintendo-will-not-refund-tariff-fees-it-passed-onto-customers-saying-they-received-exactly-what-they-bargained-and-paid-for/) lately, but the company refuses to pass any refunds on to its customers. Sony has also noted that it has "secured the quantity of memory necessary" for all the PS5 consoles it expects to manufacture and sell this calendar year. The next few months will be a crucial period for Sony, as the release of GTA 6(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/grand-theft-auto-6-everything-we-know/1100-6503729/) is expected to give the company a sales bump during the holiday season.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformSony Defends Going Digital, But Says It Understands Players’ Love Of Physical PS5 Games
Sony's decision to kill PS5 disc production in 2028(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) has been met with massive criticism since it was first announced, and the company has acknowledged the backlash. In a Q&A session(https://www.irwebmeeting.com/sony/fast/20260731/N5SWmcH4/2027031q02en/index.html) for investors following the posting of its Q1 financial results today--running from April 1 to June 30--Sony revealed more details about its decision to shift toward an all-digital future, and how the announcement had been met with "strong views" from its community of gamers. "We announced that from January 2028 onwards we will no longer be manufacturing game discs, so one-and-a-half years ahead," Sony CFO Lin Tao said (via an interpreter). "There are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that digitalization of content overall has been progressing. That's the big factor. It’s not just for PlayStation, but for all kinds of content; digitalization is progressing. When we think about the future, we put in a lot of thought and time, and we cautiously considered this, and we came to this conclusion and we're going to cautiously move this forward." Tao added that Sony has since then received "various opinions" from people with "strong views," acknowledging how its consumers have a strong emotional attachment to physical media. "We understand those emotions; we want to consider that. And in the future digital ecosystem, how we engage the gamers is something that we would like to continue to explore," Lin concluded. Sony's plans to move past physical media have been the subject of a lot of debate over the last couple of weeks. Digital adoption at Sony has surged in the last few years, with 82% of consumers choosing this option. Sony also stands to benefit financially(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/why-is-sony-killing-discs-its-all-about-profitability-and-control-expert-says/), as it'll get to keep all of the revenue from selling a first-party game and take a cut of the profits from third-party sellers through its online marketplace. While PlayStation gamers have been vocal(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/over-220000-people-petition-sony-not-to-kill-physical-playstation-game-discs/)--going so far as to voice their displeasure with every single social media post that Sony makes and organizing a rally for August--developers and publishers have also voiced their opinions. Ubisoft boss Yves Guillemot believes that there could be a benefit(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/ubisoft-boss-has-a-hot-take-on-sony-killing-game-discs/) to gaming being a digital-only hobby, while Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser says that Sony should provide an option for players(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/rockstar-co-founder-and-gta-co-creator-on-physical-games-companies-should-provide-it-if-people-want-it/) to have physical copies still--even if digital games offer several benefits. There might be some hope on the horizon, however, as Sony has suggested that there could still be code-in-a-box releases for games--an option that GTA 6 is using for its physical release in November(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-physical-copies-wont-include-discs-just-download-codes/).
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, PCReport shows 34% of physical PS5 games and 50% of Xbox Series X games do not work fully without a download first
Are consoles following PC's lead?
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformSony pushes forward with ditching discs, despite backlash
Sony has received a lot of backlash from PlayStation fans since announcing that it's killing physical game disc production, but that hasn't swayed its decision. During Sony's latest earnings call, chief financial officer Lin Tao said that while the company "put in a lot of thought and time" when considering the opposition put forward by &8230;
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile, VR, PCBuild an ASMR Tower codes
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/build-an-asmr-tower-0.webp?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Build an ASMR Tower is a Roblox(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/roblox) tycoon game that puts you in charge of building your own ASMR-filled obby. You’ll buy blocks like keycaps, stress balls, and bubble wrap, build an obby on your plot, and watch as the cash rolls in. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/roblox-build-an-asmr-tower-codes)
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile, VR, PCCut a Gem codes
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/cut-a-gem-0.webp?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Cut a Gem is an incremental Roblox(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/roblox) game that lets you run your very own geode-opening business. After your geodes are opened by the grinders you place on your plot, you’ll sell your gem finds on a conveyor belt and accept (or decline) offers from customers. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/roblox-cut-a-gem-codes)
🖥 PlayStation, Xbox, Mobile, VR, PCThrow a Coin codes
!(https://assetsio.gnwcdn.com/throw-a-coin-0.webp?width=690&quality=85&format=jpg&auto=webp) Throw a Coin is an incremental Roblox(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/games/roblox) game that features a very mysterious magical fountain. You’ll toss coins into the fountain over and over again to get random items, sell your finds, use your earnings to purchase upgrades and new coins, and eventually make your way into entirely new worlds. Read more(https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/roblox-throw-a-coin-codes)
🖥 PlayStation, PCThere's a timeline where Dark Souls was a PlayStation exclusive, but Sony lost out on the chance because it wouldn't publish Demon's Souls in North America
Things could always be worse.
🎮 PlayStation, Multi-platformFF7 Revelation Director Really Wants You To Have A Physical Edition For The Game
The biggest topic in the games industry right now is the debate around physical media, with Sony kickstarting the conversation by killing its production of PlayStation discs(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/sony-confirms-playstation-disc-production-will-end-in-2028/) in January 2028. Everyone has thoughts about the company's decision, including Final Fantasy 7 Revelation(https://www.gamespot.com/games/final-fantasy-vii-revelation/) director Naoki Hamaguchi, who said he's trying to make a physical edition of the game happen. In a July 29 interview with GamesRadar+(https://www.gamesradar.com/games/final-fantasy/final-fantasy-7-revelation-director-wants-some-kind-of-physical-edition-for-the-rpg-but-he-cant-promise-it-as-sony-becomes-the-latest-to-shift-away-toward-digital/), Hamaguchi acknowledged that "the general trend" he's seeing is a shift towards downloadable games. However, he still believes that physical media is "a wonderful culture" and that "it would be a shame to lose that." As such, his team is working diligently to make sure that a physical version of Revelation comes out. "We're still having internal discussions on what the exact SKU product lineup is going to be for Revelation,” Hamaguchi said at Berlin's Final Fantasy 14 Fan Festival. "So I can't say anything particularly definitive at this point in time. But I am working to make the arrangements to allow us to have some kind of physical edition." https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PH3ox5krci8 He couldn't give a definitive answer on what kind of physical edition Revelation may have, but he explained that, because different platforms have different regulations, those considerations have to be factored into whatever is produced. "Obviously, say, if you're talking to Nintendo, there's considerations about the storage limits on key cards and things like that, and then other platforms about how much you can put onto a disc,” Hamaguchi said. "Each platform and first-party have their own specific rules and regulations that we need to take into account, and think about what format is actually going to be best for the game. These are the discussions that we're having at this point in time. I do hope that we'll be able to come up with something that is as close as possible as to what players and fans are going to want, but you’ll have to look forward to future announcements for that." Revelation is the third and final entry in the remake trilogy. The previous installments, Remake(https://www.gamespot.com/games/final-fantasy-vii-remake/) and Rebirth(https://www.gamespot.com/games/final-fantasy-vii-rebirth/), both had physical editions on PlayStation 5. Considering Revelation releases sometime in 2027, it stands to reason that it'd get a physical edition on PlayStation 5, too, since Sony isn't ending disc production until 2028. Although it may launch with a disc, there's still the possibility that, like Grand Theft Auto 6(https://www.gamespot.com/games/grand-theft-auto-vi/), it could just be a code in the box(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/gta-6-physical-copies-wont-include-discs-just-download-codes/). We'll see sometime in 2027. Although Revelation will bring an end to Cloud and friends' story, that may not actually be the end of the game itself. A recent leak suggested(https://www.gamespot.com/articles/even-the-end-of-final-fantasy-7-revelation-isnt-actually-the-end-leak-suggests/) that the upcoming action-RPG will receive a plethora of DLC, including some sort of "Story Expansion Pass" that may see Cloud and company explore a brand-new territory.