PS5 Home Screen Now Features Ads Instead of Game Art
The PlayStation 5 has introduced a new feature that's causing quite a stir among gamers. Now, when you hover over a game icon on the home screen, you might see an advertisement instead of the usual game artwork. This change has left many users feeling confused and frustrated. The ads seem to replace the main game visuals, sometimes with outdated information. While some see the potential for keeping games updated, others view it as an unwelcome intrusion.
PS5's New Advertising Feature
Recently, users noticed that the PS5's dashboard now displays ads that replace game visuals. This means instead of seeing your favorite game's artwork, you might see a promotional video or a patch note. For example, a Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 ad replaced the protagonist's image on the home screen.
Examples of Confusing Ads
- Black Myth: Wukong: Displays patch notes instead of game art.
- Call of Duty: Promotes the latest update for Season 6.
- Lego Horizon Adventures: Appears when selecting Horizon Zero Dawn, causing confusion.
- Spider-Man: Miles Morales: Shows a cinema release ad from June 2023.
These ads can be misleading, especially when they promote content that's already outdated. Some users find this particularly confusing, as it can make them think they're about to play a game that's not yet released.
Community Reactions
The gaming community has mixed reactions. Some users appreciate the updates for modern games, but many are unhappy with the clutter of irrelevant information. A user on Reddit expressed frustration, noting the ads cover the screen with outdated news.
Others hope for a way to disable this feature. They miss the ability to ignore unwanted content, like they could with the Explorer tab. This new system feels intrusive to many, especially when it affects games they own.
Comparison with Other Consoles
It's worth noting that the PlayStation dashboard has had ads for years, though they were mostly confined to the PlayStation Store. The Xbox dashboard also has ads, but it supports themes that can take precedence over the ads.
Some speculate that this feature is part of the PS5's Welcome Hub firmware update, though it's not mentioned in the update notes. Regardless, it's clear that not all PS5 users are fans of this new addition.
Looking Forward
As the PlayStation community continues to voice their opinions, it remains to be seen if Sony will adjust this feature. For now, gamers are left hoping for a way to turn off these ads or at least make them more relevant.
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