PS5 Rolls Back Unskippable Ads on Homescreen Feature after Ungodly Backlash, Calls it a “Bug”

The gaming community made it known that the latest firmware update on the PS5 is not a favorite amongst the player base. While players have asked Sony Interactive Entertainment to do something creative with the dashboard of the latest PlayStation console, such as customizable themes, which was a great feature in the previous generation, the company decided to do something similar and take a few steps backward in the wrong direction.

While some fans appreciated the new Welcome Hub page where they can move and adjust certain widgets to their liking, the update inadvertently removed the traditional backgrounds of games selected on the menu and inserted advertisements for related projects which can be a nuisance and the gaming company went ahead and claimed it was a bug; however, it can be something else entirely.

The Dashboards of PS5 Owners Are Now a Massive Advertisement for Other Projects

Sony Interactive Entertainment has been in the gaming industry for quite some time but those years of experience are thrown out of the window now and then. The gaming company is not perfect and has proven that by failing to learn from its past mistakes during the launch of the base model PS5s four years ago and now the company intends to repeat history with the launch of the 30th Anniversary Collection PlayStation 5 bundle. With limited stock, it will be cut-throat to acquire these rare bundles, and most of them are already in the hands of scalpers intending to resell them for twice the price or even more.

Amidst the 30th anniversary, the gaming community received a new firmware update for the PlayStation 5 featuring a new customizable Welcome Hub, and this feature can now move certain widgets, enlarge them, or remove them altogether depending on how they want it. Unfortunately, this new feature was quickly criticized by fans of Sony after adding a new advert system that replaces the menu screen of each game with an advertisement instead of the original background key art.

The Last of Us HBO Season 2 being promoted on The Last of Us Part 2 PlayStation Game Page 🔥🌿 pic.twitter.com/a4G65S8OWv

— DomTheBomb (@DomTheBombYT) September 28, 2024

While some ads are relevant and somewhat exciting, like The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered, which is now promoting the upcoming second season of the live-action HBO series, some games are not receiving the same benefit. Some fans now prefer to revert to the original dashboard, and the simplistic nature of showing key art in the background and the original score as the background music on the PS5. Sony representatives claim it is a bug; however, it seems unlikely, especially with how this bug is behaving like targeted ads. At first glance, it seemed like a harmless update to show other related projects but it is evident what Sony is trying to imply.

Perhaps the company is not ready to admit it but this is likely a beta test run for an upcoming feature. Players are not interested in seeing tips or tricks about games they are playing nor the prices for other related projects. This new advert system is Sony’s way of shoving other projects in their faces, and it is not going to stand. The gaming community wanted a feature where they could customize their PS5 but received a marketing update instead which is poorly executed and in poor taste.

Despite Being the Most Advanced PlayStation Console, the PS5 Is on the Short End of the Stick of Customization

The user interface takes up the most space on a screen and is noticeable whenever a player boots up their PS5. Players do not want to be reminded of prices, patch notes, or other related marketing material like YouTube videos. The Welcome Hub is a welcome addition, no pun intended; however, it is evident that Sony is trying to do something ambitious that will likely blow up in its face and not in the way the executives wanted.

Sony’s recent move has left some fans feeling skeptical. Despite Sony’s claim that it’s a bug, many believe it’s a trial for a new system with a strong focus on targeted ads. While it’s generally appreciated to see additional game-related projects, trivia, and news, the concern arises when these elements take over the entire screen, disrupting players’ experience. Sony has greatly miscalculated how PS5 users would respond to this feature, resulting in a learning experience for the company.

The company must have rolled out this feature to test the waters and see how the gaming community would react. Sony will either back down after seeing the initial backlash or double down and find other ways to appeal to the player base while getting away with targeting ads. The PS5 is the crown jewel of the PlayStation platform; unfortunately, it is not receiving the treatment it deserves regarding home menu customization and user interface, not in the way the PS4 and even the PS3 had.

Sony Interactive Entertainment may have had a strong footing in the gaming industry; however, the company is pushing its luck too far. It is a cut-throat business and this is probably one way for the company to cut costs with marketing through slapping them into the user interface of each PS5.

What are your thoughts about the new advert system on the PS5 dashboard? Let us know in the comments section below!