You can now play enhanced versions of your favorite PS4 games for free on the PS5 by subscribing to the PlayStation Plus Collection.

Sony has announced more perks for gamers who want to upgrade to the PS5. In a showcase, the company said PS5 users can now access the PlayStation Plus Collection. With the Collection, you can now enjoy a slew of PS4 games on your next-gen console. 

The PlayStation Plus Collection

In a blog post, Sony gives more information about the Plus Collection. If you have PlayStation Plus and get a PS5, you can choose from a vast library of popular PS4 games. These games include Sony exclusives and various third-party games.  

Should I Pay for the PlayStation Plus Collection?

Sony adds that the Plus Collection is an “added benefit” to your existing PlayStation Plus subscription. You don’t have to pay anything for the Plus Collection. If you redeem a game from the Collection, you can play it as long as you remain a Plus member. 

Moreover, grab these PS4 games for your PS5, and you’ll also enjoy faster loading speeds and better framerates with the PS5’s Game Boost. 

What PS4 Games Can I Play?

According to Kotaku, you can enjoy these games and more from the PlayStation Plus Collection. Take your pick:

Sony has released a full list of the games that will be available through the PlayStation Plus Collection on November 12, including Bloodborne, Persona 5, and The Last of Us Remastered. https://t.co/BiDhN46vTJ pic.twitter.com/QIqA1hxXI4

— Kotaku (@Kotaku) October 28, 2020

•     Bloodborne
•     Days Gone
•     Detroit: Become Human
•     God of War
•     Infamous Second Son
•     Ratchet and Clank
•     The Last Guardian
•     The Last of Us Remastered
•     Until Dawn
•     Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End
•     Batman: Arkham Knight
•     Battlefield 1
•     Crash Bandicoot N. Sane Trilogy
•     Fallout 4
•     Final Fantasy XV Royal Edition
•     Monster Hunter: World
•     Mortal Kombat X
•     Persona 5
•     Resident Evil 7 Biohazard

Both the PS5 and the PlayStation Plus Collection launch on November 12.

The post Play PS4 Games on the PS5 with the Playstation Plus Collection first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

Sony has announced a surge in revenue and profit from PlayStation 4 sales ahead of the PS5’s November launch.

As the PlayStation 4 slowly drives off to the sunset, Sony’s gaming division continues to rake in the profits. The Japanese company has posted PlayStation revenue of 507 million yen, or more or less $4.9 billion. Moreover, the company also posted an operating profit of 105 trillion yen, or more or less $1 billion. These numbers came in during the July-September quarter. 

PlayStation Profits

The Verge reports that these numbers represent an increase of 52% and 40% for Sony’s revenue and profits, respectively, over the same period in 2019. Moreover, this increase doesn’t usually happen ahead of the release of a new console. Sony is launching the PS5 in November, after all.

Sony admits that its profits and revenue took a hit. Rising costs dented its profits, while lower PS4 sales cut its income. However, this year, more people bought digital games and subscribed to PlayStation Plus. These sales made up for the gaps. 

PlayStation Releases

For the quarter, Sony released its best-selling title, Ghosts of Tsushima. The open-world samurai action-adventure sold 2.4 million copies in just three days during its July release. Moreover, the game is now Sony’s fastest-selling new PlayStation IP.

By the end of March 31, Sony expects to make 2.6 trillion yen in revenue and 300 billion yen in profit. These numbers would mark a 26% rise in both streams.  

The PlayStation 5

In the short-term, Sony might only earn limited revenue if it can’t manufacture enough PS5 units. SIE chief Jim Ryan told Reuters that the PS5 enjoys a “very considerable demand.” Ryan said that people who want to buy a PS5 might not get one on launch day.

The post Playstation Profits Surge Ahead of November PS5 Launch first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Sony responds to gamer backlash against the new 8.00 PS4 software update by stressing it’s not spying on voice chat parties.

After releasing the 8.00 software update for the PS4, Sony can once again record your PS4 parties. This news may upset you, like several gamers. If you’re worried that Sony might spy on your PS4 parties, the company says not to worry. 

Recording PlayStation 4 Parties

Kotaku says that the 8.00 update will help the PS4 talk with the PS5. Moreover, Sony says that party recording feature refers to a new PS5 ability. When the update went live, gamers got new pop-up messages upon joining or starting a PS4 voice chat party. The messages told them that Sony might record their chats for moderation.

The gamers also had other problems with the update. Some of them include network issues, freezing, and slow menus. Right away, the backlash against Sony spread on the internet. 

Sony’s Response

In a blog post, Sony said that they did not record any party. Instead, Sony would only review recordings sent by PS5 players. The company just wanted to inform PS4 users about the new PS5 feature before its November launch.

Hello! The notification advises you that other users may be recording your voice conversation. We do no record party chats. ^PS

— Ask PlayStation UK (@AskPS_UK) October 14, 2020

Moreover, the AskPlayStation UK Twitter account said Sony does not record any voice chat party. 

What’s the Point of the Pop-up Messages?

Kotaku guesses Sony sent out the messages because it wants to protect itself from legal issues. Moreover, the backlash would worsen if gamers just learned the feature upon buying the PS5 in November.

Some countries would also ask consent from all parties before recording. In this case, these messages might work like automated messages that play before customer service.

The post Sony Confirms Not Spying on PS4 Voice Chat Parties first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Irene Hawkins

Proud owners of Sony’s Playstation 4 must be looking forward to upgrading to the new PS5 later this year. However, you might come across a hitch during the move. Sony has announced that the Dualshock 4 would not work with the PS5, except for playable PS4 games. 

The Dualshock 4 Is Out, but Dualsense Is In

In a blog post, Sony announced that the new PS5 would not support the Dualshock 4. The company said that they want new games to take full advantage of the console’s new features and abilities. In that case, the new features include the new Dualsense wireless controller.

Kotaku reports that you can still connect your Dualshock 4 to the PS5. You can also use the Dualshock to play supported PS4 games. However, if you buy new PS5 games at launch, you’ll have to use the Dualsense controllers to play them.

With No Dualshock, Can I Still Use My Other PS4 Peripherals?

The good news is that you can use other Sony PS4 peripherals on the PS5. For example, Sony said you could use “official racing wheels, arcade sticks, or flight sticks” on the PS5 and PS4 games.

You can also use your Platinum and Gold Wireless Headsets on the PS5. Moreover, you can also connect your third-party headsets via the PS5’s USB drives or audio jack. Official third-party controllers would also work. If you’ve played VR games on the PS4, you can also use the PS Move Motion Controller and the Playstation VR Aim Controller on the new console. 

Sony Enters the Next-Gen with No Dualshock

Both Sony and rival Microsoft will launch their newest gaming consoles by the end of the year.

The post Sony PS4’s Dualshock Controller Won’t Work With PS5 first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Gamers should be excited about this year’s holiday season. This year, Sony and Microsoft are welcoming us to the next-gen of gaming. Sony has released images of the PS5 and its batch of exclusive games. But if you’re a Microsoft gamer, check out the Xbox Series X.

The Xbox Series X: Microsoft’s Most Powerful Console Yet

Kotaku has shared a list of the Xbox Series X’s most important specs. With these specs, it could stand toe to toe with a PC, graphics-wise. According to Kotaku, the new console is lightning fast. Gamers can enjoy an eight-core CPU that runs at 3.8 GHz. In terms of system memory, the Series X has a 16GB GDDR6 with a 320 MB bus. 

The Series X can also run games at 120 FPS.

We've updated our explainer on everything we know (and don't know) about the Xbox Series X: https://t.co/xEhnhIQEe2 pic.twitter.com/BVR2lQ3UGz

— Kotaku (@Kotaku) July 29, 2020

Storage Capacity and SSD Processing 

You can pack more games into the Series X than the Xbox One. The Series X has a 1 TB of SSD storage, compared to the Xbox One’s 500 GB. With a solid state drive, you can also zip past loading screens, thanks to faster processing. 

Other Features: “Quick Resume”

The console now lets you pause multiple games at once and resume them with zero loading screens. This feature is called Quick Resume. Smart Delivery also gives you a free Series X version of any game you buy. 

Moreover, you can play all Xbox One games on the Xbox Series X. Play 30 FPS games at 60 FPS and play 60 FPS games at 120 FPS. With these updates, the Series X looks like the beefiest Xbox yet. Will it be worth the wait? Or will the PS5 take the crown?

The post Can the Xbox Series X Win Gaming’s Next-Gen? first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

If you’ve ever owned a PSP before, check your batteries now. Reports have gone viral on Twitter about swelling batteries. With newer consoles popping up often, you might not have played your PSP in years. It’s time to pull it out of your closet and check up on your Playstation Portable. Sony launched the portable console in Japan in 2004. 

The PSP and Swelling Lithium Batteries

Kotaku reports that the swelling batteries began happening in Japan. The reports involved the original  1000 and  Slim models. Lithium batteries do swell up over time. Even if you’ve kept playing yours since 2004, you might still notice its battery expanding.

Battery swelling also happened to users outside Japan. American users have also tweeted out photos of their expanding batteries.

https://twitter.com/teacup_hare/status/1287202612677431302?s=20

Holy shit I thought the psp battery exploding thing was a joke, what the FUCK. I haven’t touched this thing in years and it’s like this pic.twitter.com/0UrV0Ow3sF

— Bingo (@BingoBrinco) July 25, 2020

PSP Lithium Batteries Close to Exploding

While some gamers didn’t experience battery swelling, many users saw their batteries pop out of their cases. This case poses more risk since the battery might explode and harm the player. 

Sony’s Advice to PSP Owners with Swelling Lithium Batteries

In the Kotaku report, Sony said that its lithium batteries have limited lifespans. Over time, battery lifespans get reduced. The company advises all owners to stop playing if their batteries start expanding. Players also should not use the PSP without the battery cover. 

If your PSP battery just swelled up, or if it looks like it might burst, throw it away. But do it correctly. Discarded batteries can harm the environment. You can also send your battery to a gadget shop, and they’ll dispose of it for you.

The post PSP Owners Report Swelling Lithium Batteries, Check Yours first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold

Confused Xbox gamers don’t need to worry anymore about which console to buy. Microsoft announced Friday that it would stop making the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition. This decision allows Microsoft to focus all efforts on its upcoming Xbox Series X. To tide you over, Microsoft also said they’re still going to make the Xbox One S.

Why Did Microsoft Discontinue the Xbox One X?

A Microsoft spokesperson told CNN that quitting the Xbox One X and Xbox One S All-Digital Edition was a “natural step” before stepping “into the future.” Currently, Microsoft is preparing to release the Xbox Series X later this year. 

CNN reports that despite the Xbox One X’s hefty specs, it failed to sell as many units as the Sony Playstation 4 and the Nintendo Switch. The machines are now the top players in the console market. Meanwhile, Microsoft had sold the Xbox One X as a flagship product.

Microsoft is already stopping production of Xbox One X:https://t.co/wp9f91jYoH pic.twitter.com/lJbZkms0v4

— Kotaku (@Kotaku) July 17, 2020

The Xbox One X could run games at 4K resolution. Microsoft had considered it the higher-end cousin of the Xbox One. 

What About the Xbox One X’s Rivals?

During quarantine, lots of people resorted to gaming as a pastime. Sony’s Playstation 4 remains the most popular video game console, with hundreds of exclusive games selling lots of copies. The Playstation 4 is Sony’s current-gen entry and boasts much better graphics and a faster system. 

Released in 2017, the Nintendo Switch also found a sizeable market. Its exclusive games like Animal Crossing and The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild have become video game bestsellers in the past few years. The Switch’s selling point is its hybrid form. You can play it as a handheld, and you can also play it docked to your TV. And if you don’t want either, you can play it as a tabletop console. 

What’s in the Future for Microsoft and the Xbox?

Joost van Dreunun told CNN that stopping the Xbox One X was “an effort to reduce the number of consoles in the market.” Van Dreunun founded New Breukelen, a video game investment firm. Microsoft’s rival Sony will be releasing its next-gen console, the Playstation 5, during the 2020 holiday season.

CNN also reports that Microsoft may be planning to produce a cheaper next-gen console, codenamed “Lockhart.” Rumors abound of its launch next month. 

If you’re craving for an Xbox console, you can still run to select stores to buy the Xbox One X. Make sure to check your local retailers for availability.

The post Microsoft Halts Production of The Xbox One X first appeared on Tekrati and is written by Sam Arnold