PlayStation | The Verge

With Saros, Housemarque makes a case for doing next-gen games differently

2026-04-30T15:00:45-04:00

It is generally frowned upon to care too much about appearances. We have a lot of little aphorisms discouraging this - books and their covers, beauty being skin deep, style over substance, that sort of thing. Vanity is a risk. Should one put a disproportionate effort into how a thing looks, then said work may very well be considered shallow. But in the world of big-budget video games? That's how you win.

Visual fidelity is video game shorthand for progress: how meticulously rendered a mountain is, how dynamically the snow behaves, how a player character raises their hands to touch a wall when the player approaches it just so. This pursuit …

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PlayStation now requires a ‘one-time online check’ to confirm you own a game

2026-04-30T05:18:51-04:00

Sony has finally stepped in to clear up the growing confusion around a new DRM (Digital Rights Management) system on PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 consoles. Users reported that the system's latest updates seemingly introduced a requirement to go online once every 30 days to validate game licenses, but Sony now says this is false.

In a statement to GameSpot, a Sony Interactive Entertainment spokesperson said that "a one-time online check is required to confirm the game's license, after which no further check-ins are required." The DRM rumors had sparked concerns that gamers who don't sign in every month would lose access to their games by …

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Saros reminded me how great the DualSense can be

2026-04-29T08:13:15-04:00

The DualSense controller was one of Sony's main selling points for the PS5. Beyond things like a striking new design and adaptive triggers, the controller's haptic feedback offered genuinely cool new experiences for games. Rumble effects had been around for decades at that point, but the DualSense offered something very different: I'm still blown away by the sand crunching under Astro's feet in Team Asobi's Astro's Playroom or the futuristic pulses from weapons in Housemarque's Returnal.

But there have been few titles since the PS5's release that have captured that same magic and showed off what made the controller so distinct. This week, H …

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Your PS5 can now transform into a Linux PC

2026-04-29T08:05:34-04:00

A developer has created a method to get Linux running on some versions of Sony's PlayStation 5 console. Andy Nguyen previously showed off a ported version of Ubuntu running PC games on a PS5 last month, and he's now published the installation steps on GitHub this week.

This is a soft mod, so it won't persist between power downs or restarts, but the Linux installation will let you play PC games once it's up and running. So far we've seen GTA V running with enhanced ray tracing at 60fps in Ubuntu on a PS5, as well as Spider-Man running at 1440p resolution and 60fps.

Nguyen is relying on a patched vulnerability to transform a PS5 into a Linux …

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Saros is pure action nirvana

2026-04-23T23:33:53-04:00

The alien world of Saros feels like it has been touched by King Midas. The sky is golden after another impossibly frequent solar eclipse; rocks, specifically those of the precious resource Lucenite, radiate a shimmering amber. Even the body of our gruff hero Arjun Devraj (played by Rahul Kohli) is liable to turn deep, opulent yellow as he ventures further into the wilds of Carcosa. Should he die (a regular occurrence), the game cuts to stranger, more cryptic images, one of which is a double bed covered in gold silk sheets.

It's a fittingly blingy aesthetic for this time when gaming has scarcely been a more gilded activity (seriously, have …

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PlayStation’s age-gating restrictions are coming to UK consoles

2026-04-21T09:39:37-04:00

Sony is starting to comply with the UK's Online Safety Act by notifying PlayStation players of its age verification requirements today. PS4 and PS5 owners in the UK and Ireland won't be able to participate in voice chats, messaging, parties, or other third-party communication services from June unless they verify their age.

"Beginning June 2026, if you have not completed age verification, you can continue playing on PlayStation, but some features won't be available until you verify your age," says Sony in a support note. Age verification will also be required for broadcasting features or sharing gameplay to YouTube or Twitch from a PlayStat …

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A YouTuber channeled his distaste for the PS5’s design into slick console covers

2026-04-08T12:00:19-04:00

The PlayStation 5's curvy design is divisive. The Verge's Andrew Webster called it a "robotic clam" in his 2020 review, which is actually kind of endearing. Personally, I kind of got over hating it sometime during the past almost-six years of its existence. Small form factor PC enthusiast Devyn Johnston is someone who did not get over it. He was so not over it that he made and is now selling BoxPlates, $89.99 snap-on console covers that fundamentally change how the PS5 looks.

With the BoxPlates on, the PS5's design goes from curvy to flat. There's an unmistakable infusion of the Xbox One S / X design language in the plates. About 60 percent …

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Today is the final day to save up to $150 on a PS5 before the price goes up

2026-04-01T09:22:44-04:00

Behold, the PlayStation 5 Pro. | Photo: Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

The cost of the PlayStation Portal and every PlayStation 5 console is going up tomorrow, April 2nd, by as much as $150 in some cases. That means time is running out if you want to save yourself the money you’d soon have to spend to secure a PS5, which is why I’m going to point you in the right direction to get a console before the changes take effect. I also found a deal if you’re okay with buying a refurbished model.

If you want the slim PS5 console with or without a disc drive, there’s no need to pay full retail price. Right now, you can grab a refurb model (with minor cosmetic imperfections but tested to perform like new with a one-year warranty) from Sony’s PlayStation Direct storefront starting at $399. That’s how much the Digital Edition costs, while the slim version with the disc drive is going for $449. Both are $100 lower than the retail cost as of April 1st. Sony is also selling the original model with a disc drive (and a smaller 825GB SSD compared to 1TB in the refurbished slim versions) for $399. You’ll find those options below.

PlayStation 5 Digital Edition (slim, refurbished)

Where to Buy:

$399 at PS Direct

PlayStation 5 (slim, refurbished)

Where to Buy:

$449 at PS Direct

PlayStation 5 (original, refurbished)

Where to Buy:

$399 at PS Direct

At this point, I see little reason to suggest spending more at retailers for a new console; once the price increases on April 2nd, you’ll have figured out a way to save $200 compared to buying new, maximizing the leftover cash you would otherwise spend on games and accessories. But, hey, it’s possible that you might have a gift card or another motivating factor to buy from a different retailer. If so, don’t let me stop you!

If you want to pick up a PS5 through traditional retailers, the slim Digital Edition (now with 825GB of storage, following a downgrade in October) is available for $499 from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, Sony, and GameStop. The model with the disc drive, meanwhile, is available through the end of today for $549 from Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, and Sony.

If you’re hoping to snag a refurbished PlayStation 5 Pro, you’re out of luck, as there’s currently no refurb option available via Sony. You’ll need to buy it new to get Sony’s most powerful console, which will cost you $749 until April 2nd ($899 afterward). It’s available in its usual 2TB configuration from Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, and Sony.

PlayStation 5 Pro

Where to Buy:

Lastly, today is your last day to save on the PlayStation Portal, which will jump from $199 to $249 tomorrow. You can buy it at its regular price at Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, GameStop, and through Sony via PS Direct. Sony has been steadily enhancing the handheld remote player’s capabilities since its 2023 debut, and what started out as a gadget you could use strictly over Wi-Fi to view and control your PS5 games now offers cloud-based streaming with a PS Plus Premium Plus subscription. Sony also recently rolled out an option that can push a higher-bitrate 1080p resolution to the handheld from your PS5, assuming your Wi-Fi connection can handle it.

PlayStation Portal

Where to Buy:

SteelSeries’ feature-packed Nova Pro Wireless headset is $80 off

2026-03-27T17:54:16-04:00

The SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless came out almost four years ago, yet it’s still one of the best gaming headsets you can buy. Turns out, it’s not easy for other companies to duplicate all that SteelSeries got right with this one — mixing multiple audio sources, active noise cancellation, a retractable mic, hot-swappable batteries, and more. Normally priced at $379.99, it’s down to $299.99 at Amazon during the company’s Big Spring Sale that lasts through April 1st at 2:59AM ET. The deal is also happening at Best Buy and from SteelSeries directly.

SteelSeries Arctis Nova Pro Wireless

Where to Buy:

The Nova Pro Wireless is a unique product in that two Verge staffers tested the headset when it launched. Sean Hollister and I each received units and co-published an in-depth review because there were a lot of features to cover, and there was a lot to say about this fantastic headset.

In late 2025, SteelSeries launched a more premium version of this model called the Nova Pro Elite. Save for its more premium build materials, improved wireless signal and hi-res audio, there’s not a ton else to justify spending the whopping $599.99 it costs. We think the Nova Pro Wireless that costs literally half the amount is pricey enough as is, and definitely good enough for most people.

Sony is raising PS5 prices by $100 in April

2026-04-08T09:09:25-04:00

Sony is raising the price of its PlayStation 5 consoles globally starting April 2nd. In an announcement on Friday, Sony says that the standard PS5 will now cost $649.99, up from $549.99. Meanwhile, the PS5 Digital Edition now costs $599.99 instead of $499.99, and the PlayStation 5 Pro will cost $899.99 instead of $749.99.

Along with these changes, Sony is increasing the price of its PlayStation Portal as well, going from $199.99 to $249.99.

This is the second time in less than a year that Sony has raised the price of its PS5 consoles, as the company hiked prices by $50 for all three models last August. Sony cites "continued pressures in th …

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