Sony Faces Backlash Over Unwanted PS5 Ad System Intrusion, Cites ‘Technical Error’
Sony recently found itself in the spotlight after PlayStation 5 users reported intrusive advertisements replacing game art on their homescreens. According to Sony, the issue was caused by a “technical error,” which has now been resolved. The company addressed the problem in a tweet on October 1, 2024, stating, “A tech error with the Official News feature on the PS5 console has since been resolved. There have been no changes to the way game news is displayed on PS5.”
Despite Sony’s swift action, this update follows a wave of user frustration. Prior to the fix, PS5 users noticed that hovering over a game icon triggered a forced news feed or advertisement, replacing the unique game art that previously adorned the homescreen. While some saw news updates such as patch notes or promotional videos, others found outdated or irrelevant ads. IGN’s testing revealed examples like Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 showcasing promotional content in place of its game art, and Black Myth: Wukong displaying patch notes in the background.
Perhaps the most confusing instance involved an ad for Lego Horizon Adventures showing up when users selected Horizon Zero Dawn, creating the illusion that the unreleased game was playable. There were also numerous complaints about outdated ads, such as Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales promoting the June 2023 release of Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, and NBA 2K25 displaying early access ads long after the promotion had ended.
These unwanted ads, which have appeared on the PS5 homescreen since the September 2024 update, frustrated many users who felt the system was cluttered and intrusive. While advertisements have long been a part of the PlayStation ecosystem, they were typically relegated to the PlayStation Store. The shift to integrating them directly into the dashboard—and without a way to disable them—marked a notable departure from Sony’s usual approach.
Speculation arose that these changes were part of the recent Welcome Hub firmware update, though Sony made no mention of such a feature in the patch notes. This lack of transparency led to widespread dissatisfaction within the PS5 user base. Redditors voiced their concerns, with one user, mikelman999, pointing out the problem with outdated content: “It just ends up covering your screen with irrelevant information that’s potentially a decade out of date.” Another user, ConcreteSnake, criticized the ads for infiltrating every game they owned, calling it a “terrible decision.”
Although Sony has since corrected the issue, it highlights the larger tension between companies looking to monetize their platforms and users seeking uninterrupted, streamlined experiences. While similar practices have long existed on Microsoft’s Xbox dashboard, Xbox users benefit from customizable themes that prioritize game art over ads—something the PS5 currently lacks.
For now, the original game art has been restored, and Sony has reassured players that there have been no changes to the way game news is displayed. However, the event has raised questions about the future of user control and transparency in platform updates, especially as consoles evolve into more commercialized environments.
As PlayStation moves forward, it remains to be seen whether Sony will implement a more permanent solution for handling unwanted content on its console interface. The pushback from core PS5 users suggests that Sony may need to rethink its approach to balancing content delivery with user experience.
