For better or worse, Marvel’s Wolverine is basically a playable blockbuster. You’ll find cinematic spectacle, thrilling set pieces, and a (mostly) enjoyable storyline. But, like many modern summer movies, this PS5 exclusive lacks substance and is even a little forgettable.

PS5’s Wolverine shows its full hand surprisingly early. While the violent combat feels true to the character, even the gory satisfaction of eviscerating an enemy soldier starts to wear off disappointingly fast. Still, at least the original comic book narrative has its moments, and the game always looks great on PS5 Pro — when technical issues aren’t spoiling the fun.

I had a good time tearing through this slickly produced Wolverine game, but even as I write this review, merely a week after completing the campaign, it’s already fading from memory. But if the goal was to give players a bombastic single-player experience, in which Logan’s inner turmoil takes center stage, then developer Insomniac Games has definitely succeeded.

It’s just a little disappointing that Marvel’s Wolverine doesn’t have more to sink your claws into. It lacks the staying power and gameplay variety to be one of the PS5’s best exclusives.

Marvel's Wolverine: The Basics

• What is it? Marvel’s Wolverine is a third-person action-adventure game where you play the titular always-angry hero as he tears through armies of enemies on a personal quest to protect mutantkind from several sinister villains.
• Who is it for? Dedicated Marvel fans may enjoy this fresh spin on the character, while players looking for a short (and mostly sweet) game will enjoy Wolverine’s linear approach.
• What’s the price? Marvel’s Wolverine on PS5 costs $69 at Amazon. There’s also a Digital Deluxe Edition for $79 with some extra suits.
• What other games has the developer made? Wolverine comes from Insomniac Games, the developer behind the Marvel’s Spider-Man series. Other notable titles from Insomniac include Ratchet & Clank, Sunset Overdrive, and the PS3 shooter franchise Resistance.
• What games is it similar to? Marvel’s Wolverine shares several similarities to its sister series, Marvel’s Spider-Man, but without an open world and with the blood and gore factor turned up to 11.

Not the Marvel Universe you know

Marvel’s Wolverine throws players right into the action. After a brief introductory cutscene, Wolverine leaps from a helicopter on a mission to save Nathaniel Essex, leader of Team X and something of a father figure to Logan, who’s been captured by villain Bolivar Trask.

I appreciate that Insomniac has opted to avoid the origin story approach. Like the first Marvel’s Spider-Man game, you take control of an established Wolverine, already familiar with his powers, and with a rich backstory explored across the single-player campaign.

Marvel purists might wrinkle their noses at some changes to established X-Men lore. However, the story is generally entertaining and does a good job of motivating players to push through the many, many enemy gauntlets to see what happens next. There are also several familiar faces, including Mystique, Sabretooth, Lady Deathstrike, and Jean Grey.

The latter is the most important. Jean and Wolverine’s relationship takes on a prominent role in the narrative, and their budding romance is easy to buy into. There’s no Scott Summers in Logan’s way in this Marvel universe, so that played-out X-Men love triangle isn’t repeated.

One less successful character inclusion is Nathaniel Essex. I’ll avoid direct spoilers, but anybody even vaguely familiar with the X-Men’s comic book history will know where his character arc is heading, which means that when the big reveal comes, it lacks impact.

While not telling the definitive Wolverine story, the game presents a well-paced and smartly plotted comic book tale. It leaves the protagonist in a good spot where a sequel seems likely, not least because of an intriguing post-credits scene that leaves a thread hanging.

Getting the claws out

Insomniac hasn’t been afraid to lean into brutal violence with its interpretation of Wolverine. Within moments of picking up your DualSense controller, Logan’s claws are stained red with blood as he quite literally tears through enemies, lopping off limbs, spilling guts, and some of the finisher moves are so extreme they made me practically wince the first time I saw them.

Unfortunately, while such a high level of violence is initially novel (does that say something worrying about me?), the pleasure of disembowelling an enemy wears off alarmingly fast. Wolverine’s combat always looks extremely flashy, but it’s very one-note. It’s your basic system of light and heavy attacks, with the occasional block thrown in every few strikes.

As the story progresses, you unlock a suite of special abilities, one of which lets Wolverine knee an enemy in the chin (which always made me chuckle), and another lets him unleash a quick flurry of damage-dealing slashes. But these do little to spice up a combat system that feels repetitive within just a few levels. Late-game enemies are damage sponges, and bosses have large health pools and predictable move sets, further adding to the issue.

At least smartly managing your rage meter, which fills as you kill enemies, can make later encounters a bit less of a slog. At rage level 3, you unlock the ability to instantly execute enemies, so you can bounce around the battlefield, turning henchmen to pulp in minutes.

Alternatively, you could often opt for stealth; multiple levels place Logan in environments with tall grass to sink through and high trees to scale, but I have to wonder: does anybody associate Wolverine with a stealthy approach? It certainly doesn’t fit the character to me.

As the game progresses, combat areas grow larger with more and more enemies to slice up, but I found myself merely going through the motions, relying on basic combos that suffice until the end. The skill tree unlocks a few new moves, but they’re largely unnecessary; on normal difficulty, just mashing the standard attack and tapping the block button will suffice.

Unfogging Logan’s past

Wolverine is primarily a very linear experience. There’s no open world like Spidey’s NYC. However, some levels do let you wander a little bit. Taking in the sights is worthwhile, as there are collectibles that flesh out Insomniac’s spin on the X-Men universe.

I suspect some players will find the frequency of “walking” sections a chore, but I enjoyed this change of pace, and they helped to break up the repetitive combat. They also go a long way to developing Wolverine’s relationship with the supporting cast, which is one of the game’s core strengths. I wouldn’t have cared about Jean Grey half as much without them.

Optional Nightmare Doors offer even more insight into Wolverine’s past and represent the bulk of the side content (unless you count collectible whiskey bottles). These imposing wooden doors are easily spotted within levels by their glowing purple roots, and each offers a self-contained challenge mission. Once completed, you get a short memory fragment.

The Nightmare Door challenges range from combat trials (not that I really need more enemies to butcher) to some very fun traversal courses, which I always looked forward to. Upon completion, you’re given a rank from bronze to adamantium, and I felt compelled to achieve the highest rank on each before moving on. High score chasers will love them.

Here, the game also dips its toes into the rougelite genre with three trials that pit you against 20 waves of enemies. Between every five waves, you can pick a modifier that buffs Logan (increased damage, reduced special ability cooldown, etc.), while also giving him a negative effect (like your rage meter taking longer to fill), forcing you to adapt your combat tactics.

These combat trials are very simple, and all take place in the same small map, but there’s a good foundation here. I’d love to see them expanded further. Maybe they’re hinting at a post-launch DLC similar to God of War Ragnarök’s well-received Valhalla expansion?

Impressive visuals, with rough edges

On PS5 Pro, Marvel’s Wolverine looks and runs very well. Character models are expressive, the bloody detail when Logan sinks his claws into a goon is marvellous, and the voice acting is of a high standard. Particular credit to Liam McIntyre, who voices the eponymous mutant.

Even when the action gets thick and fast with Wolverine leaping between enemy soldiers and eventually Sentinel robots, I never noticed any framerate hitches; things were locked at 60 fps. Insomniac offers players plenty of accessibility options, which is very commendable.

Unfortunately, while Marvel’s Wolverine is another PlayStation Studios game that proves there’s plenty of power remaining in the PS5, my playthrough was blighted by pesky bugs and glitches. These ranged from enemy bodies floating in mid-air, Wolverine initiating a finisher move with thin air (which admittedly looked very funny), and interactable objects refusing to cooperate until Logan was standing at the perfect angle. Annoying but tolerable.

What was harder to stomach were the half-a-dozen hard crashes that occurred during my 15-hour playthrough. Marvel’s Wolverine is generous with checkpoints, so most didn’t cost me any real progress, but two came during boss battles, which forced me to start over. And as noted, the boss battles are already over-lengthy, so I didn’t need them drawn out further.

Marvel’s Wolverine review: Verdict

I don’t want to be too harsh on Marvel’s Wolverine. It’s a generally high-quality action-adventure experience that lets you live out your X-Men dreams of becoming the team’s most iconic member. Yet, while playing, I always felt like something was missing.

There’s a factory-line quality to Marvel’s Wolverine; it hits all the expected beats of a modern AAA game, but never carves out an identity of its own. The combat is repetitive, the story is good but predictable, and after completing it, I felt little reason to return — even mopping up the few remaining trophies for the Platinum failed to motivate me to continue playing.

Marvel’s Wolverine is undeniably well-made and offers some no-frills superhero fun, but launching in such a packed release schedule, it’s hard to see where it truly stands out.

To mark the release of a little game called Grand Theft Auto VI, PlayStation is launching limited-edition PS5 DualSense controllers. GTA 6 DualSense pre-orders are now live in the U.S. and the U.K.

• GTA 6 DualSense (White): $84 @ Amazon

U.S. pre-orders kicked off at 10 a.m. ET, and for now, there is stock available at multiple retailers including Amazon, Best Buy and Walmart. The Black edition is exclusive to PlayStation Direct.

In the U.K., most retailers are sold out after pre-orders went live at 10 a.m. BST. You can still pre-order the Black variant at PlayStation Direct, and Amazon has a listing page but hasn't taken pre-orders yet. So watch the retailer closely; it could have stock soon.

This latest special edition PS5 pad comes in two variants, Black and White, and gives the DualSense controller a GTA 6-themed makeover. You’ve got the GTA 6 logo on the touchpad, palm trees adorning the sides, and a "shimmering" finish to cap it all off. In PlayStation’s own words, the controllers "capture that unmistakable Vice City energy."

Like anything GTA 6 related, these DualSense controllers are likely to sell out fast, but this isn’t my first rodeo. I’ve played (and won) the pre-order game multiple times. I’ve covered major pre-orders for a slew of in-demand items over the years, all in an effort to help regular gamers get their hands on limited edition gear rather than those nefarious resellers.

Below are all the retailer links you’ll need, and the latest live stock update to make sure you get your GTA 6 PS5 controller.

GTA 6 DualSense controller pre-orders - quick links

• GTA 6 DualSense (White): $84 @ Amazon
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): $84 @ Walmart
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): $84 @ GameStop
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): $84 @ PlayStation Direct
• GTA 6 DualSense (Black): $84 @ PlayStation Direct
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ Best Buy
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ Target

GTA 6 DualSense controller pre-orders - full retailer listings

GTA 6 DualSense controller UK pre-orders

U.K. pre-orders began at 10 a.m. BST with most retailers selling out after a few hours. However, restocks could appear at any moment so check these links, and Amazon is still yet to go live with its pre-orders.

• GTA 6 DualSense (White): £74 @ EE
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ Amazon
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ Smyths Toys
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ Argos
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ Currys
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ Very
• GTA 6 DualSense (White): check stock @ PlayStation Direct
• GTA 6 DualSense (Black): check stock @ PlayStation Direct

Live updates

PlayStation State of Play for September 2026 is over. We got two showcases for the price of one, with a regular State of Play followed by a State of Play Japan.

The highlights included an extended look at Final Fantasy VII: Revelation, release dates for Until Dawn 2 and Metro 2039, and new games confirmed like Maneater 2. Plus, State of Play Japan brought with it tons of RPG fun!

If you missed the showcase, you can find all the announcements and every new trailer below. Or you can even rewatch the entire State of Play on demand. Here are all the games at the State of Play September 2026...

How to (re)watch State of Play for September 2026

If you missed State of Play September 2026, or wish to relive it, you can watch the entire presentation from start to finish via the embedded YouTube link above. Warning: it's a chunky presentation, so you'll need to set aside almost two hours. After all, it was technically two State of Plays!

LIVE UPDATES

It's Sony's take on free ad-supported television like Tubi, Pluto TV and the Roku Channel, bringing fan-favorite TV shows like "Community" and "The Walking Dead" alongside sports programming from NFL Channel, UFC, and other staples, news, weather, long-running anime series from Crunchyroll, and more to the gaming console you already use.

(Btw if you're looking to snag a PS5 Pro to play GTA 6 on, check out our live blog on all the latest PS5 Pro restocks.)

To watch these new free channels (you can find a full list below) now, just go to the Media tab on the console's home screen, select the Live TV on PS5 icon, and sign in to your PlayStation Account. Easy as that! Live TV on PS5 is currently available in the U.S. to start, and Sony plans to roll it out to Canada and other regions in due time.

Sony said the service will evolve over time, but at launch, here's all the free programming you can watch now:

All the new live TV channels on PS5

• Movies – Free movies across action, horror, sci-fi and more, with channels including MovieSphere by Lionsgate, 50 Cent Action, FilmRise Free Movies, Sony One Horror Hits and Cinevault.
• TV Shows – Fan-favorite programming including Community, The Shield, Hell’s Kitchen, The Walking Dead, Forensic Files, Unsolved Mysteries, Deal or No Deal USA and Fear Factor, plus Ice Road Truckers from A+E’s HISTORY.
• Anime – Anime favorites including Naruto, Sailor Moon, Hunter x Hunter, Death Note and more, including exclusive channels Black Clover and Box Sets channels from Crunchyroll.
• Sports – Sports programming from FOX Sports, NASCAR, NBC Sports Now, UFC and more spanning MMA, football, hockey, motorsports, golf, boxing and soccer
• News & Weather – National, local and international coverage including NBC News Now, Fox Weather, and LiveNOW from FOX
• Creator & Specialty Programming – Programming featuring Hot Ones, Spotify’s The Ringer, Futcrunch, Idle Mode, comedy, action sports, gaming, esports and other creator-led content.
• Additional Programming – Discover gaming and esports, creator-led entertainment, documentaries, podcasts and other specialty programming, including eCLUTCH (exclusive) and more.

It's the same FAST (Free Ad-Supported Streaming TV) channels that have been available for years on free streaming services like Tubi and Pluto TV, now just all in one convenient location on your PS5. Both live and on-demand content will be available at launch, and there's no paid subscription, hidden fees, or downloads required.

I'm always happy to see more free streaming options arrive on the scene since the days of streaming as a cheaper alternative to cable are long gone. Of the PS5's selling points, Live TV channels are barely a footnote, but it's a handy addition for those who already own a console and want to have access to live news, the latest seasons of their favorite TV shows, and sports all in one place. So who else is gonna join me in watching the 50 Cent Action channel on PS5 tonight?

More from Tom's Guide

• The best live TV streaming services in 2026: Cable TV alternatives that save you money
• I watched hours of Tubi and Pluto TV to see which free streaming service has more ads — and one has twice as many
• 3 free shows on the Roku Channel with a lot of seasons — including a Nathan Fillion mystery drama

The PS5 Pro is suddenly experiencing a wave of stock shortages, and a certain GTA 6 appears to be the culprit. PlayStation’s premium console turns two years old in November and was readily available at launch. However, with the Grand Theft Auto VI juggernaut on the horizon, gamers appear eager to upgrade their setup for the best possible experience.

The sudden spike in demand for the PS5 Pro has seen major retailers sell out of stock, and even the PS5 Pro’s March price hike (from $699 to $899) seemingly isn’t deterring buyers. In fact, there are reports of resale sites listing the console for as much as $1,399. But don’t give in to the scalpers; here at Tom’s Guide, it's our mission to get you a PS5 Pro at a fair price.

We’re experienced restock trackers, having covered everything from the original PS5 launch to the very popular PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection. So, if you want to upgrade to a PS5 Pro before GTA 6 launches on November 19, we’ve got the latest restock updates down below. Be sure to bookmark this article, as we’ll update you when PS5 Pro stock appears.

PS5 Pro restock — Quick links

• PS5 Pro: check stock @ Amazon
• PS5 Pro: check stock @ Best Buy
• PS5 Pro: check stock @ Walmart
• PS5 Pro: check stock @ Target
• PS5 Pro: check stock @ GameStop
• PS5 Pro: check stock @ PlayStation Direct

PS5 Pro restock — latest updates

As of 12:33 p.m. (ET) on Thursday, September 17, the PS5 Pro is out of stock at major retailers. That includes Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, Target, and even PlayStation's own official online retailer, PlayStation Direct.

The restock situation is particularly bleak at present. There have been no signs of stock since the GTA 6 Extended Look premiered on Netflix, the console has remained sold out throughout the month of September.

If you don't want to wait for "new" PS5 Pro, GameStop offers pre-owned units, but stock varies by location (so check your nearest store).

Meanwhile, I've encountered several third-party sellers using retailers like Best Buy, Amazon and Walmart to scalp the console for eye-watering prices. There's a listing on Walmart for $1,469. Hopefully PS5 Pro restocks are on the way, and in the meantime, don't give in and pay scalper prices.

PS5 Pro restock — Full retailer listings

PS5 Pro restock — what you need to know

How much does the PS5 Pro cost?

As of March 2026, the PS5 Pro retails for $899. This is quite a step up compared to the base PS5 Slim, priced at $649, and the PS5 Slim Digital Edition, which costs $599 as standard.

$899 was not the PS5 Pro’s launch price. The powerful PlayStation console initially retailed for $699, but earlier this year the price was hiked due to, in Sony’s words, “continued pressures in the global economic landscape.”

In simple terms, that means the increasing cost of RAM, which has been dubbed “RAMageddon.” The price of RAM has spiralled in recent months due to overwhelming demand, particularly from AI and data companies. The result has been price increases across consumer tech. Sadly, video game consoles haven't escaped the price hikes seen across tech products.

Why is the PS5 Pro sold out right now?

Since its launch in November 2024, the PS5 Pro had never been difficult to buy. I was in the pre-order trenches two years ago and can confirm first-hand that securing one was as simple as heading to your preferred retailer, checking out, and ideally not looking at your bank balance afterward. The price increase in March this year likely only further softened demand.

So what’s changed? That appears to be a little game called Grand Theft Auto VI. The long-awaited next mainline installment in Rockstar’s open-world crime series releases on November 19, and now that we’ve got a proper look at GTA 6 gameplay, the hype levels are reaching a peak. This has led many gamers to invest in their gaming setup before launch.

GTA 6 is dropping exclusively on console in November. It’s only on PS5 and Xbox Series X, and if you want to play GTA 6 on the most powerful console around, that’s the PS5 Pro. So we have the perfect storm of a once-in-a-generation game leading to increased demand on a console that was previously considered niche. Plus, Sony can’t just rapidly manufacture more stock due to the aforementioned rising cost of key components, like RAM.

Is the PS5 Pro worth buying in 2026?

This is a tough question to answer. Back in 2024, when I reviewed the PS5 Pro for Tom’s Guide, I said, “The eye-watering $699 price tag makes it a machine that will only appeal to the most dedicated gamers,” and I stand by that verdict. The only thing that has changed is that the price has gone from eye-watering to downright off-putting. Yet, the PS5 Pro is selling out.

If you want to experience GTA 6 at its absolute best this November, the PS5 Pro will presumably be the place to play. Rockstar hasn’t yet confirmed how (or if) the game will utilize the Pro’s extra horsepower, but it’s expected to look (and run) best on the PS5 Pro.

However, $899 is a steep price to pay, and that’s assuming you can even find a PS5 Pro in stock for MSRP. It’s also worth noting that the recent GTA 6: An Extended Look presentation showcased the game running on a base PS5 console, and it certainly didn’t look bad — far from it. It looks stunning.

If you take your console gaming seriously, the PS5 Pro could be a worthwhile investment, as it’ll boost the performance of not just GTA 6, but also the majority of AAA games on the PlayStation platform, but I don’t think it’s an essential upgrade in 2026, any more than I did back in 2024.

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More from Tom's Guide

• PS5 Pro review: The most powerful console ever comes at a price
• The best PS5 games in 2026
• I grinded enough Microsoft reward points to get GTA 6 for free 

Then Rockstar drops 26 minutes of Grand Theft Auto VI gameplay into my lap, and the cynicism is completely replaced with “how on Earth did they do this!?”

The footage wasn’t captured on a boutique developer workstation or devkit; it ran on a standard PlayStation 5 — a machine built on silicon that hit shelves back in 2020. My mind is blown, and having frame-stepped through the footage repeatedly, the fidelity in which Vice City has been realized is truly astonishing.

But if I can get nerdy with you, the real story isn’t just raw horsepower, it’s the meticulous, brilliant optical illusions being used to create these visuals without cooking a six-year-old console. I’d love to share what I’ve found with you, and what made me pre-order the second after my first watch-through.

• Preorder for PS5 ($79)
• Preorder for Xbox Series X/S ($79)

Guesswork and analysis: My analysis is from watching the full 4K version of the GTA 6 Extended Look, which you can download for yourself here. Paired with my understanding of game graphics, but with no comment from Rockstar, so I don't know the specifics of their game engine, but I can make some educated guesses.

Natural lighting that doesn’t melt the console

The single biggest visual upgrade in the footage is how light moves through the world. It’s what really brings that level of depth and moodiness to every scene — from the dark, smoke-filled dinginess of the drug den to the sun-soaked streets of Vice City.

In past games, lighting was largely “painted” onto objects with pre-set shadows. In GTA 6, however, sunlight actually bounces off surfaces in real-time. When light hits the floor of Jason and Lucia’s apartment, it naturally bounces up to softly illuminate the room.

Speaking to Nvidia on the PC gaming side of things, they’re quick to tell me just how much immense processing power calculating these real-time light bounces takes. To handle it on a base PS5, the console isn’t drawing every single pixel at 4K sharpness:

• Smart upscaling: To my eyes, the console appears to draw the internal image at a lower baseline resolution (around 1440p) and uses smart upscaling software to sharpen it up for your 4K TV. Think like Nvidia’s DLSS — easing the burden on the internals with a clever workaround.
• Using atmospheric fog: Miami is filled with humid ocean air, which can lead to a haziness. Not only does this add a serious vibe to the place, it could also be the key to creating rich, believable lighting without having to calculate every microscopic beam of light in the distance.

The reflection illusion

True, mirror-accurate reflections across an entire game are usually a death sentence for smooth performance. It’s why I find myself relying on Team Green’s DLSS 4.5 Ray Reconstruction to use AI for those calculations and keep some semblance of smooth performance.

In the console space, you have to get extra crafty, and from what I can see, Rockstar is getting around this by prioritizing what is right in front of your character:

• Sharp details up close: Puddles on the street, shiny car hoods and glass shopfronts near Jason and Lucia show crisp, accurate reflections.
• Faking the distance: For background buildings and far-off bay views, the game quietly swaps out those expensive reflection calculations for simpler visual effects. Your eyes naturally focus on the sharp details right next to your character, while your brain fills in the rest.

Natural hair without stealing horsepower

Individual hair strands are notoriously difficult for even the priciest gaming hardware to render. In GTA 6, Jason and Lucia’s hair visibly catches the wind and shifts realistically as they move or drive. It looks incredible, and it took me a while to figure out what was going on here.

To keep performance steady, it looks as if the game is rendering character hair at a slightly lower visual detail, then smoothing the edges out onto the characters head. The decision was made here that the way hair moves is more important than the sheer fidelity of it, and when everything is moving, it looks dense and natural while freeing up vital processing power.

Realistic clothes that actually fold and stretch

In GTA 5, character outfits mostly moved like stiff, molded plastic glued to their bodies. In the sixth edition, clothing acts like actual fabric:

• Dynamic wrinkles: When Lucia is at the firing range, her jacket dynamically wrinkles, pulls tight around the shoulder and bunches around her elbows.
• No awkward clipping: From what I saw in this polished demo, sleeves didn’t awkwardly slice through a character’s arms or torso during quick animations. Instead, the fabrics collided and folded naturally against the body.

The reality check

All of these visual tricks bring up the million-dollar question for console gamers: will GTA 6 be able to run at a smooth 60 frames per second on a base PS5?

Almost certainly not.

Rockstar Games has made a series of important decisions here from bigger things like the way ray tracing works across the world to the smaller details I mention above that really bring life to a place. And that’s before even thinking about the density and artistry of the world tasking that console.

To hit 60 FPS, you’d likely have to turn a lot of this down or off altogether, as well as really ramping up the motion blur and turning down the base resolution.

The team decided that a living breathing world matters more than high frame rates, and watching a console from 2020 deliver this level of visual polish is a clinic in smart software design proving that clever engineering matters just as much as raw horsepower.

And now, I hope that my boss approves my PTO request for the November 19, 2026…for “important reasons” of course.

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This 27-inch monitor covers the basics, including a 1440p IPS panel with a variable 240Hz refresh rate. The design is fairly nondescript, with a black-and-white theme that matches the PS5. It also includes unique features, such as Auto HDR tone-mapping that calibrates your PS5’s video settings and a convenient charging hook for your DualSense controller.

While the PlayStation 27-inch gaming monitor isn’t revolutionary, it delivers on its promise as an excellent desktop companion for your PS5. Sure, it doesn’t have 4K resolution or an OLED panel, but it still offers a fantastic gaming experience for only $349. If you’re looking for a monitor for both your PC and PS5, this monitor comes with my highest recommendation. Find out why in my full review.

PlayStation 27" Gaming Monitor review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? A 27-inch gaming monitor that’s specifically designed for the PS5 and PS5 Pro.
• Who is it for? For gamers who own a PS5 and/or a gaming PC and prefer playing at their desk.
• What does it cost? The PlayStation 27” Gaming Monitor is available now for $349 on PlayStation’s website and at Best Buy.
• What do we like? We like the sleek, minimalist design, bright and colorful display, fast performance, built-in charging hook, and Auto HDR tone mapping.
• What don’t we like? We don’t like that it tops out at 1440p and lacks an OLED panel.

PlayStation 27" Gaming Monitor review: Specs

PlayStation 27" gaming monitor review: The ups

The 27-inch PlayStation gaming monitor impresses thanks to its elegant design, vibrant picture quality, smooth performance, and PS5-centric features.

PS5-like design

The first thing you’ll notice is that this looks a lot like a PlayStation monitor, thanks to its black-and-white color scheme. The almost all-white back, featuring the iconic PlayStation logo, complements the black shaft, stand, bezels, and the port locations. It’s a classy design that looks just as good in an office as in a gaming den.

Gliding the monitor up and down the shaft is easy, as is tilting and swiveling it to your preferred viewing height and angle. The shaft is completely flat and takes up little space on your desk, leaving more room for peripherals. There’s also a VESA mount on the back to use it with one of the best monitor arms, if you prefer.

Port-wise, you get everything you need to connect to a PS5 and/or PC. This includes a pair of HDMI 2.1 ports, a single DisplayPort, two USB-A ports, a USB-C port, and a USB-B port. Since the monitor is so light, it’s easy to turn it around to access the ports. It’s nearly impossible to connect anything by touch alone if you’re facing the monitor.

My favorite design element is the charging hook for your controller. The hook swings down from the back of the monitor like a door handle and snaps into place when fully down or fully up. There’s just enough room on the hook’s end for your DualSense controller to rest comfortably while it charges. This is one of the smartest features I’ve seen on a monitor.

Vivid and sharp display

The 27-inch PlayStation gaming monitor has a 27-inch (2560 x 1440) IPS panel. Although it’s not an OLED screen, you still get excellent image quality because the monitor automatically calibrates your PS5 for the best HDR settings. The 16:9 aspect ratio is also ideal for PS5 games and many PC titles.

There are only four standard picture modes: Default, Cool, Warm, and sRGB — with each of these having corresponding HDR modes. Some can look brighter or more colorful, but you generally get the same image quality across the board.

I was blown away when I tested Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 on this monitor in the Default display setting. Because the colors aren’t oversaturated, in-game New York City looked incredibly lifelike and cinematic. Neon signs and energy bolts pop out nicely, while HDR provides strong contrast between dark and light elements. This is as good as it gets for a non-OLED panel.

The 27-inch PlayStation monitor did well on our lab test. Color reproduction (sRGB and DCI-P3) is excellent, while color accuracy (Delta-E) is just slightly lower than what I usually see from gaming monitors. In contrast, the $349 Alienware AW2726DM delivers much more vivid colors, but its HDR across 100% of the screen can’t match the PlayStation 27’s. The latter is certainly a benefit of lacking an OLED panel.

Smooth performance

The PlayStation 27-inch gaming monitor supports up to a 240Hz refresh rate, double the PS5’s maximum 120Hz. That means that whether you’re playing on a PS5 or PC, you’ll get a buttery-smooth gaming experience thanks to the high refresh rate and VRR support.

Spider-Man 2 on the PS5 Pro runs like a dream on this monitor. I didn’t experience a single instance of screen tearing or input lag. This is especially important in a game like this, where you’re swinging through Manhattan’s artificial canyons at breakneck speeds one moment, and dealing with mobs of enemies the next. No matter what’s happening on the screen, the monitor handles it beautifully.

Simple interface

The menu UI’s design is as clean and simple as the monitor itself. The interface features a transparent background with white lettering. Here, you can access the aforementioned picture modes, as well as settings for audio, inputs, profiles, and more.

The OSD (On-Screen Display) joystick on the back lets you navigate the menus easily. Located just above the power button, the white joystick blends well with the back of the monitor and offers the right balance of sturdiness and flexibility when you move it up and down and left and right.

PlayStation 27" Gaming Monitor review: The downs

While there’s a lot to like about this PlayStation monitor, it has a few minor drawbacks.

No OLED or 4K

The only two real negatives about the 27-inch PlayStation gaming monitor are that it doesn’t have an OLED panel and it tops out at 1440p. If you absolutely need an OLED monitor or 4K resolution, then this could be a major deterrent. However, if that doesn’t matter to you, you might not see these as negatives at all.

I’m mostly sharing this as an expectation check, because while it’s a bummer that the display isn’t OLED and the resolution is 1440p tops, I don’t consider these major deal-breakers. The overall image quality is phenomenal, and arguably better than what you’d get on some similarly-priced monitors.

As for price, the $349 price tag makes it extremely easy to forgive any shortcomings, especially when its upsides vastly outweigh the negatives.

PlayStation 27" gaming monitor review: Verdict

The PlayStation 27-inch gaming monitor is a worthwhile purchase for gamers who primarily play at their desk. Though it’s not the fanciest gaming monitor out there, it has everything you need for a great experience on PS5 and PC. And as I said before, it’s hard to knock this monitor because of its affordable $349 asking price.

If you absolutely need an OLED monitor, the $349 Alienware AW2726DM is a solid alternative. But if you want seamless integration with your PS5, plus a charging hook for your controller, the 27-inch PlayStation is an easy recommendation. It’s really that good!

Your PS5 console is about to get a Wolverine-themed makeover, as PlayStation is dropping a range of limited-edition items to mark the upcoming release of its new exclusive, Marvel’s Wolverine. Pre-orders are now LIVE in the U.S. and U.K., and the available stock is being snapped up faster than Logan's healing factor can kick in!

The range includes a limited-edition Wolverine PS5 console bundle, two new DualSense controller designs, and, for those who already own a PS5, a range of PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro Console Covers (sorry to launch model owners). The items come in two variants, Battle Yellow and Adamantium. The latter exclusive to PlayStation Direct.

If the limited-edition range for Insomniac’s last Marvel game, Spider-Man 2, is any indication, these Wolverine items are going to sell out very quickly. And you know resellers will be on the scene to ruin another gaming drop for the rest of us.

Fortunately, I’ve got more than six years of experience tracking pre-orders and restocks for in-demand items, from the original PS5 stock nightmare to the uber-popular (and very hard to buy) PlayStation 30th Anniversary Collection. I’m using all that knowledge to help you secure these limited-edition Wolverine PS5 products today. Below are all the retailer links you’ll need and the latest live update to make sure you get the bag!

Wolverine PS5 pre-orders - quick links

• Wolverine Battle Yellow PS5 bundle: $649 @ Best Buy
• Wolverine Battle Yellow PS5 DualSense: $84 @ Amazon
• Wolverine Adamantium PS5 DualSense: $84 @ PS Direct
• Wolverine Battle Yellow PS5 Slim console covers: $74 @ PS Direct
• Wolverine Battle Yellow PS5 Pro console covers: check stock @ PS Direct
• Wolverine Adamantium PS5 Pro console covers: check stock @ PS Direct

Wolverine PS5 console bundle pre-orders

Wolverine PS5 DualSense controllers pre-orders

Wolverine PS5 Console Covers pre-orders

Wolverine PS5 console and controllers UK pre-orders

As of 10 a.m. BST on Wednesday, August 19, pre-orders for the limited-edition Marvel's Wolverine range have begun in the U.K. See below for all the buying links you need.

• PS5 Wolverine Battle Yellow bundle: £569 @ Currys
• PS5 DualSense Controller (Wolverine Battle Yellow): £74 @ Currys
• PS5 DualSense Controller (Wolverine Adamantium): £74 @ PS Direct
• Wolverine PS5 Slim Battle Yellow console covers: £64 @ PS Direct
• Wolverine PS5 Pro Battle Yellow console covers: check stock @ PS Direct
• Wolverine PS5 Pro Adamantium console covers: check stock @ PS Direct

Live updates

“When we think about the future, and we put in a lot of thought and time, and we cautiously considered this, and we came to this conclusion. And we’re going to cautiously move this forward,” Tao said.

Sony has been receiving near-daily backlash from gamers online; most of the backlash isn't over the medium of discs itself but a perceived lack of ownership since most digital sales are "licenses," not something you actually own. Data from Circana analyst Mat Piscatella highlighted that in 2008 over 100 PlayStation games sold more than 100,000 copies. This year, only 7 reached that mark.

Unfortunately, Sony made this announcement just as prices are skyrocketing for RAM and storage, forcing hikes on everything from phones to laptops and anything that requires memory thanks to AI-driven supply constraints.

With that in mind, I decided to take a look at how much memory you would need for the 37 first-party games released for the PlayStation 5 since it launched in 2020.

Here's the full list of the games

• Astro Bot
• Astro’s Playroom
• Days Gone Remastered
• Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
• Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
• Demon’s Souls remake
• Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
• Ghost of Yōtei
• God of War Ragnarök
• God of War: Sons of Sparta
• Gran Turismo 7
• Helldivers 2
• Horizon Forbidden West
• Horizon Zero Dawn Remastered
• Lego Horizon Adventures
• Lost Soul Aside
• Midnight Murder Club
• MLB The Show 21
• MLB The Show 22
• MLB The Show 23
• MLB The Show 24
• MLB The Show 25
• MLB The Show 26
• Nioh collection (Nioh 1 & 2 Remastered)
• Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart
• Returnal
• Rise of the Ronin
• Sackboy: A Big Adventure
• Saros
• Spider-Man Remastered
• Spider-Man 2
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• Stellar Blade
• The Last of Us Part 1 remake
• The Last of Us Part 2 Remastered
• Uncharted: Legacy of Thieves Collection
• Until Dawn remake

Using the listed download size from the PlayStation Store, I found that the 37 games totaled 2,989.1 GB, or about 2.99 TB.

The PS5 comes with 1TB of storage, which you can expand with an m.2 SSD or an external hard drive. To fit all of these games, plus whatever extra space is needed for the operating system and any patches you're going to want, at a minimum, a 4TB hard drive.

At the time of writing, the officially licensed 4TB WD Black NVMe m.2 SSD that PlayStation recommends sells for $789.99 on Amazon. That is $400 more than the same hard drive cost a year ago, and about as much as the PS5 Pro.

The cheapest 4TB drive, possibly compatible with the PS5, that I could find is a refurbished Samsung 990 Pro for $419.99 from Best Buy.

Unfortunately, those prices aren't likely to get better, as SK Hynix, one of the big three RAM manufacturers alongside Samsung and Micron, recently warned that 2027 will be even worse for RAM prices. And it's unlikely to get better by 2028, when Sony will stop making and selling physical copies of PS5 games.

Between rising prices and fears over ownership, gamers are stuck in a rough spot for the next few years. And that doesn't even account for the higher price they'll likely have to pay for a PS6 to play games from the next console generation.

More from Tom's Guide

• Sony TV report card 2026: Is the 'Sony tax' still worth paying?
• If PlayStation wants to succeed with all-digital, it needs to follow the Steam model — 5 ways it can win over gamers like me
• Sony TV report card 2026: Is the 'Sony tax' still worth paying?

Sony says that digital now accounts for the vast majority of PlayStation game sales — hitting 85% in the most recent quarter — and it also nets a greater profit from digital purchases than physical, so it’s unlikely the company will reverse this controversial decision. However, if Sony wants to start (re)building trust with its fanbase, there are ways to make an all-digital future more palatable, namely by copying some of what has made Steam successful.

Steam has been a rousing success on PC for many years. Though Valve doesn’t offer physical games, it provides users with plenty of incentives to remain satisfied with their digital purchases and with the platform overall. I don’t expect Sony to completely copy Steam, but it can adopt similar policies if it ends disc production in January 2028.

Here are five practical, realistic adaptations Sony can take to make PSN more player-friendly.

More frequent (and enticing) sales

While PC gaming has higher upfront costs than consoles, it has become more affordable over time thanks to frequent Steam sales. Steam keeps its online store thriving with major seasonal sales and near-constant publisher promotions. Games also drop in price faster and more aggressively. This is why Steam users (like me) end up with libraries of hundreds of games. It’s hard to pass up a title when it’s just a few bucks!

The PlayStation Store has its own sales events, such as Days of Play, Black Friday, and other holiday sales, along with weekly deals. However, full-price windows for new games are longer, and we usually only see extreme deep discounts when a game is all but forgotten. I’ve taken advantage of PSN sales and snatched some good titles, but the sales and discounts still don’t match those of Steam.

In an all-digital world, Sony would have complete control over pricing. Using Steam-style volume-driven discounting on the back catalog (and even earlier on mid-tier titles) would encourage more impulse and library-building purchases, rather than people either waiting for huge discounts or skipping entirely.

A true “try before you fully commit” refund policy

Right now, Steam arguably has the best refund policy in gaming. So long as you play a game for less than two hours total, you have 14 days to receive a full refund. This is a fantastic way to avoid purchasing a game that doesn’t click for you. While not technically a game demo, it pretty much serves the same “try before you buy” ethos.

PlayStation also has a 14-day refund policy, but it only applies if you haven’t downloaded a game. Once you start downloading, you no longer qualify for a refund unless the file is corrupt or you make a strong case to customer support that you purchased a game in error. This is frustrating enough now, but it will feel even worse if you can’t refund a digital title priced at $70–$80.

A playtime-based refund window, similar to Steam’s, would go a long way toward increasing purchase confidence without requiring Sony to change its curated store model. It’s actually wild that Sony doesn’t already have a similar policy, but the company should try it now if it plans to go all-in on an all-digital console.

Stronger household/family sharing

Sharing games is one of the main reasons gamers love physical media. While sharing digital content isn’t the same as handing a copy to someone else, Steam has a digital sharing policy that could work well for Sony.

On Steam, up to six family members can share a unified game library. Multiple members can play different games at the same time (you need multiple owned copies of the same game for concurrent play).

PlayStation has sharing features, but they’re more limited.

Console Sharing lets you log in to your account on a friend’s PS5 so they can play your games. Share Play lets you share your screen with a friend online and virtually hand them your controller. Though both of these methods work as advertised, a person cannot simply play games from another account on their own console in a straightforward way.

Expanding sharing options on PlayStation so a household can more easily share a digital library (with reasonable restrictions against abuse) wouldn’t be as seamless as lending someone a physical game, but it would at least offer gamers something comparable.

Better discovery tools

Steam does a fantastic job with its wishlists, price-drop notifications, “players also like,” and other recommendations driven by player data. PlayStation has its own versions of these, but they could be updated to be more useful.

The store’s recent lowest-price-in-30-days indicator is a good step, but Sony can go further with smarter recommendations, clearer sale calendars, and stronger wishlist alerts. That last one really needs work — I feel like wishlist alerts are random at best, if I get them at all.

Improving discovery is an easy way to help players find and buy more games within Sony’s closed ecosystem. If you want people to buy digital games, you need to make it easier for them to find games they would actually like.

Clearer long-term library guarantees and library management

One of the biggest reasons Sony is facing so much heat right now is the lack of clear guarantees about long-term access to the games players buy. Without physical discs, players worry more about access, storage, and account longevity. This is something that Stop Killing Games founder Ross Scott detailed when we interviewed him about Sony's decision to stop manufacturing discs.

Sony can learn from Steam’s emphasis on transparent licensing, robust cloud saves, and better tools for managing large digital libraries. Explicit, public commitments to offline play and long-term download availability would go a long way toward easing the anxiety surrounding digital-only ownership.

This is arguably the most important issue Sony has to address. People (rightly) want some form of ownership of the games they buy, especially when those games are digital. I’m not saying this will please everyone — some folks are certainly ride-or-die physical gamers — but clearer guarantees would ease much of the current anxiety.

Bottom line

I want to be clear that I am not dunking on Sony or PlayStation. The PS5 Pro is my primary gaming platform, after all. But as a PlayStation gamer since the early 2000s (thanks to the Gran Turismo 3 PS2 bundle!), I want to see the company do right by loyal customers like me.

PSN is not inherently broken. Sony already runs a polished, high-production store. However, things need to change when discs disappear. Adopting some of Steam’s more player-friendly policies would not only benefit gamers but also Sony, which would benefit from a more committed user base.

Sony will ultimately do what it believes is in its best interest. That said, prioritizing what customers want, genuinely listening, and addressing concerns would go a long way. Hopefully, Sony does right by its user base and makes an all-digital future on its consoles as acceptable as it is on Steam.

More from Tom's Guide

• Valve gives official update on Steam Machine and Steam Frame launch
• Steam Machine reviews are here: 'Even Valve is disappointed'
• The new Steam Controller is the only PC gamepad I'll ever need

The current-generation PS5 console hasn’t decreased in price over its lifespan, but instead, buying into the PlayStation platform has gotten more expensive. The base PS5 now costs $650 ($499 at launch), while the PS5 Pro is an eye-watering $899 ($699 at launch). This console generation is the first I can recall where launch-day buyers got a better deal than late adopters.

Valve’s Steam Machine finally hit shelves last month, with a $1,049 MSRP for its base model (which doesn’t even include a controller). In response, fears surrounding how much the PS6 will cost when it launches (rumored as early as next year) are only increasing as RAM costs spiral even higher.

But my question is, how much is too much? What is the tipping point for gamers? When does sticker shock go beyond reluctantly forking over your money to just outright refusal to buy into the next generation of gaming? That’s why I decided to ask some of my colleagues how much they would be willing to pay for a hypothetical PS6, and the answers varied a lot.

I also want to hear from you: what’s your PS6 price limit? Vote in our poll down below, and be sure to leave a comment, letting me know how much you’d pay for a new PlayStation console.

The price of the PS6 is only half the battle

Being a gamer isn’t just about the console. It is about the entire ecosystem, from your setup to the actual library of games. That’s why, when the PlayStation 6 eventually drops, $1,000 is my absolute hard line.

If Sony pushes the price tag any higher, it completely breaks my budget for everything else that might make gaming worth it, since there can be other costs to it. As Grand Theft Auto 6 proved, big-name titles are at the $80 mark now. You'll also need extra controllers, a solid headset, and potentially expanded SSD storage.

When you tally up the extras, the console itself is only half of the price. If Sony wants to keep me as a PlayStation fan, they can't price me out! — Arif Bacchus, Lab Tester

I'm not sure if any price would be worth it

The current console generation has been something of a disappointment for me. Supply issues hampered the launch, and PS4 support persisted longer than necessary. It feels like the PS5 never really got going. Furthermore, the current cost of gaming means the console hasn't had much attention from me.

Games are a lot more expensive than they used to be. Paying full price feels like I'm being ripped off, and good game sales are rather hard to come by — especially if you're looking for physical discs. So the prospect of paying several hundred dollars to replace my PS5 is not appealing. If Sony wants my money for the PS6, they're going to have to do a lot of things to grab my attention.

The least of which is offering an affordable console, noticeably cheaper than a competent gaming PC. For me, that means I won't bother to entertain prices above the PS5 Pro's $699 launch price.

The odds of this happening are about as likely as Wales winning the World Cup, so I've made peace with the fact that I will probably never own a PS6. Maybe the PS7 will change my mind when it arrives sometime around 2040. — Tom Pritchard, UK Phones Editor

Shut up and take my money, PlayStation

I’ll be honest: I was on the fence about getting the PS5. I got as much use as I could out of my PS4 before biting the bullet and getting the PS5 Slim… and I really wanted to play Baldur’s Gate 3, which wasn’t on Sony’s fourth-gen console. I suspect it’ll be a similar story by the time the PS6 comes around.

My PS5 right now is my favorite console, and it’s what I’ve sunk thousands of hours into games on. Sony would have to price the PS6 exorbitantly to stop me from buying it. I’d happily spend up to $1,000 on it. I can’t say for certain whether I’d buy it at launch, but it will most certainly happen.

The only thing I can see potentially stopping me from getting the PS6 is the rising cost of games — especially as we won’t be able to buy second-hand discs of the latest titles. But given how happy playing on my PS5 (and PS4 before it) makes me, right now, I can’t see myself not buying the PS6. — Nikita Achanta, Senior Reviews Writer

I may have already reached my limit

I don’t consider myself a Sony fanboy, but PlayStation has been my console of choice since the original. Despite recent choices to lean into live service, PlayStation is where the types of games I want to play live.

That said, I choked paying $500 for the Nintendo Switch 2 — hoarded gift cards allayed that frustration some — and haven’t bothered upgrading to the PS5 Pro. Inflation aside, my sweet spot for a gaming console is around $400 to $600. With things steadily getting more expensive, I’ve had a hard time accepting that those prices may no longer be realistic. I had high hopes for the Steam Machine, but its $1,050 price tag put me off, and I’m not excited about whatever the PS6 might bring to the table.

Right now, I don’t know that I’d go more than $700, but I would hate every second of it until I got the console in my house.

PlayStation 6 might be the first generation I actively skip, but who am I kidding? I’ll probably wait until I’ve hoarded enough gift cards again. It won’t be day one, though; I promise you that. — Scott Younker, West Coast Reporter

Sony would have to charge a fortune to stop me buying a PS6

Truthfully, I’m more than prepared to pay a four-digit figure for the PS6. The thought of a $1,000+ PlayStation console certainly isn’t pleasant, but Sony would have to charge well north of $1,250 before I reached my limit and felt forced to stick with my current PS5 Pro for a while longer.

I swear I’m not a corporate bootlicker; it’s a simple matter of determining value per dollar spent. PlayStation has been my primary gaming platform since the PS1, and each year, I get thousands of hours of use from my console. When you break it down into money spent to entertainment hours delivered, each PlayStation machine has been a complete bargain.

For me, it’s not the price that will put me off the PS6, but rather Sony’s decision to axe physical games (I’m mostly digital already, but still want the option of using a disc), and my concerns that it’ll launch with a relatively small hard drive in an effort to reduce costs. — Rory Mellon, Senior Entertainment Editor

More from Tom's Guide

• The best PS5 games in 2026
• PS6 price could be in the same stratosphere as the Steam Machine
• A PlayStation 6 without a disc drive? I’m done with Sony

However, The Verge is reporting that Sony’s Thalgau plant is already being repurposed to make optical microlenses instead. In other words, this wasn’t testing the waters with an announcement and checking for feedback — this was fait accompli: a decision already decided upon, with loyal customers the last to know.

No wonder the company’s popular Xbox-baiting game loaning video from the PS4 era is now being thrown back in its corporate face. Despite effectively taking brutal advantage of Microsoft’s anti-consumer error with a viral marketing video, Sony got to a very similar place in the end. It just took them longer.

Assuming there is no room for the expensive U-turn that Microsoft ended up screeching around 13 years ago, then that’s the end of the road for me with PlayStation.

It’s not that I’m averse to digital gaming, I just have very little faith in Sony’s ability to deliver it at a reasonable price.

The worst of both worlds

In theory, I can see the case for a digital-only console. A PS6 without a disc drive should be cheaper to manufacture (though that doesn’t mean cheap, given the soaring price of hardware), and as a PC gamer, I haven’t owned a computer with a disc drive in well over a decade.

But I consciously made the opposite choice when I pre-ordered my day-one PS5: I paid extra for the model with a disc drive, safe in the knowledge that over the long run, the extra cost would be recouped, after borrowing and trading in games had been taken into account.

Which isn’t to say I don’t see the benefit of digital. While nine times out of ten, I would buy the disc version for resale value and the ability to loan my favourite games to friends, I still would buy from the PlayStation store occasionally. After all, you can’t beat the convenience of instantly accessing a game no matter what time of day or night. The PlayStation Store never sleeps.

Indeed, 99% of my PC games come digitally via Steam, and it works brilliantly. But it’s not a like-for-like comparison, because ironically part of what makes Steam such a popular option is its competition. There’s no shortage of places to buy PC games from the Epic Store to GOG, so Steam can’t rest on its laurels: its prices have to stay competitive, especially during the frequent sales.

Sony could replicate this, allowing third-party game stores on PS6, but why would it? If there’s only one place to buy games, Sony can charge a healthy platform fee for every sale, safe in the knowledge that there’s no alternative (Valve gets away with between 20 and 30% depending on sales figures, despite gamers being able to vote with their feet).

There was outrage when it was announced that PS5 games would cost $70, but at least people knew they could recoup some of the costs when finished. With development costs spiralling, it wouldn’t be surprising if PS6 pricing goes even higher — and we’ve already seen some evidence of this price inflation with the MSRP of $80 plus for the digital-first GTA 6.

Without physical game shops to compete with, Sony has far more control over sales too. The company can reduce both frequency and discount percentage, safe in the knowledge that you’ve got no alternative. If you want the game, you’ll have to pay whatever Sony wants or go without.

That’s not even considering the other downsides of digital-only games. What if your account gets hacked and Sony bans you? You’ve lost access to all the games you’d paid for. What if Sony decides to remove a game before you downloaded it? Tough luck, it’s gone forever. That’s why PS4 consoles with the deleted PT demo were listed on Ebay for over $1,000 a decade ago.

Farewell PlayStation

With the expected price of PS6 blowing past even those PT scalping prices, I was already contemplating opting out of a Sony console for the first time since I was at university with my trusty GameCube.

This move seals the deal. I’ll keep playing PS5 games, but once publishers stop making them and I finish my substantial backlog, I’ll turn off a PlayStation console for the last time. If I have to play digital-only, my PC and Steam Deck will get all the love going forward. Thanks anyway, Sony.

More from Tom's Guide

• We spoke to Stop Killing Games about PlayStation killing discs
• Steam Machine vs. PS5 Pro — there’s a clear winner
• Splatoon Raiders hands-on preview: I'm already hooked

Among the outraged, the main points of contention seem to be how this will affect those who take pride in displaying their vast physical game collection, and what this decision will mean for gaming preservation. There’s also a lot of fear about a theoretical future in which Sony decides to strip users of their digital purchases without warning — a nightmare outcome that I personally believe is not impossible, but highly improbable.

These are all valid points, but my real anger over this ill-judged decision is how it could make gaming deal-hunting a closed shop, robbing consumers of options to save money. I started my time at Tom’s Guide as a deals writer, and I know firsthand how many gamers are savvy shoppers, and how important scoring a big discount is for gamers who can’t afford to drop $70 (or $80 in the case of GTA VI) on a brand new release day one.

Once PlayStation takes physical games away in early 2028, the economics of buying video games will likely completely change for millions of people, and that’s something to be mad about even if you're already all digital.

No more discs could destroy gaming deals

For gamers who largely buy new releases day one, the removal of physical games won’t make all that much of a difference, at least in terms of affordability. Right now, if you want to pre-order an upcoming game — for example, PS5 exclusive Marvel’s Wolverine — it will cost you $69 on Amazon for a disc and also $69 on the digital PlayStation Store.

However, the shockwaves of no more physical games will be felt in the months after launch, and primarily by more patient gamers who don’t feel the need to pre-order to play on day one. Once a game has had its moment in the sun, retailers tend to discount remaining stock, but over on the PlayStation Store, prices can remain locked for months, even years.

In the table below, I’ve compared prices for some of the biggest PS5 exclusives across major retailers and on the PlayStation Store (prices correct as of Friday, July 3). It paints a bleak picture. If Sony’s desired future comes to pass (and there are no signs of a U-turn yet), then gamers looking to pick up older titles could be forced to pay launch day prices.

Digital deals do exist, but choice is non-existent

All of this isn’t to say that deals don’t exist on digital games. I’ve been tracking PlayStation Store deals for years, and can say firsthand that there is pretty much always some form of sale running. Right now, it’s the July Savings sale, offering up to 75% off select PS5 and PS4 titles.

The problem here is that PlayStation gamers will be at the mercy of these limited-time sales. Let's say right now in July 2026, you decide you want to pick up God of War Ragnarök. While it’s been on sale digitally before, it’s not included in the July Savings promotion at present. It costs a full $70. Meanwhile, on Amazon you can grab a physical copy for just $32.

I can imagine a future where circling back to a game you skipped at launch means waiting months, if not longer, until it appears in one of the PlayStation Store’s rotating sales, unless you’re willing to pay the day-one price. In an all-digital future, shopping around for the best deal might be a non-starter; you will have only one storefront to buy PlayStation games on.

This situation could be mitigated by Sony allowing additional storefronts onto its consoles, but I would suggest the odds of this are slim to none. Or perhaps a more likely solution is hinted at in the PlayStation Blog article announcing this unwelcome news, which states “new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.”

Perhaps post-2028, PlayStation will permit the likes of Amazon, Best Buy and Target to sell digital game codes directly (at present, they only sell PlayStation Store credit vouchers). This could lead to more deals and discounts. Amazon could reduce the price of a digital game code in the months/years after launch. But remember, a digital code doesn't take up warehouse space, so retailers will have less incentive to clear out inventory.

However you slice it, any new game releasing on PlayStation platforms post January 2028 will seemingly be at the mercy of Sony’s and/or the publisher’s digital pricing strategy. That could mean that shopping for the best gaming deals whenever suits you becomes a thing of the past.

More from Tom's Guide

• We spoke to Stop Killing Games about PlayStation killing discs
• Steam Machine vs. PS5 Pro — there’s a clear winner
• Splatoon Raiders hands-on preview: I'm already hooked

Tom’s Guide reached out to Ross Scott, Founder of Stop Killing Games — the campaign pushing for legal protections so games don’t disappear once publishers stop supporting them — to get their take on what this announcement means for PlayStation players and gamers as a whole.

The group’s responses were measured on some points but clear on others. While they didn’t outright call Sony’s consumer preference argument false, they argued that the bigger issue isn’t really about discs at all. Here are some highlights from their answers to our questions.

The disc isn't the problem

Ross didn’t argue about whether most people preferred digital to physical. Instead, they challenged the notion that removing physical discs is the next logical step with no downsides. In their estimation, the conversation has become too focused on the format itself rather than on what players lose when that format disappears.

“The lack of the disc is just a symptom and not the core problem in itself,” Scott told us. They see the shift away from physical media as a surface-level change that masks a deeper issue: the gradual erosion of player ownership and long-term access to games.

Having a physical disc gives players something close to real ownership. Even if a publisher decided to shut down servers or stop supporting a game, you still (in most cases) had a working copy. This hasn’t been a thing on PC for a long time, and it appears the same will happen on consoles. Stop Killing Games thinks that’s why Sony’s response is wrong. Players are losing one of the last ways to keep a game they bought.

“What customers need [is] assurances their games won't be taken from them after purchase, which large publishers sometimes have a very poor track record on,” Scott said.

Second-hand sales and publisher incentives

We also asked about the impact on the used-games market and on retail competition. Their answer was more nuanced than you might expect from an anti-DRM campaign.

“I actually am sympathetic to publishers wanting to avoid secondhand sales, as in my opinion, that has led to lower prices overall (think of all the large sale events or digital game giveaways we see nowadays), but that also assumes competition in the market,” Scott added.

They also pointed out that copyrighted works already come with certain legal monopolies, and they’re wary of companies expanding that control through technical means without going through the proper legal process in different countries.

Additionally, they noted that recent examples, such as price increases following major acquisitions, show how quickly consumer-friendly promises can shift once competition decreases.

A warning from the past

The all-digital future that many dreaded is effectively here, but the idea isn’t completely new. To that end, SKG pointed to Microsoft’s original Xbox One reveal as a cautionary example. Even though Microsoft walked back many of the most controversial features after receiving backlash, SKG sees the 2013 presentation as a sign of where parts of the industry still want to go.

“Not to pick on Microsoft in particular, but I felt like the original Xbox One reveal was a sign of where the industry would like to take things,” Scott continued.

Some of Microsoft's original plans included: mandatory daily online checks, or your games would stop working, unclear rules around used games, and no guarantees that your library would survive once support for the console ended. Gamers decried all of these, but we’ve since seen them effectively become standard for all game consoles. Not having physical discs will just make it easier for companies to enact such measures.

Stop Killing Games added that they don’t believe digital games are inherently bad. When handled responsibly, digital-only games have real benefits, such as easier ways to back up purchases by copying games to an external hard drive. The danger lies when publishers treat digital ownership as something temporary or revocable.

When “physical” doesn’t mean physical

One area where Stop Killing Games was more direct was the growing trend of retailers selling “physical editions” that contain nothing but a download code inside a box—such as GTA 6 not launching with a game disc. They described this as misleading to consumers.

“I think this does create a sense of deception among consumers, since regardless of one's opinion on digital v. physical games, the average person expects something marketed as a physical copy of something to be physical.”

This practice also raises questions about what ownership even means. If the only thing inside the box is a code that can be revoked or tied to an account that might one day disappear, then the idea of “owning” a physical copy starts to feel hollow. They see this as part of the same broader pattern where the appearance of ownership is preserved while the reality of it quietly erodes.

To be clear, Sony did not say anything about selling “physical” copies of games in the manner that GTA 6 will, so we can’t say the company will go down that route. Still, it was interesting getting SKG’s take on this, since it’s a related topic.

Outlook

While we likely can’t stop console manufacturers from reversing course, we can at least ask for assurances that our digital purchases actually belong to us. This is why Stop Killing Games’ efforts are so important, especially now.

We’ll see how things play out, but for now, it might be best to brace for what’s to come.

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On the PlayStation Blog, Shuman says the company made this decision because customers have continued to shift away from physical discs to digital.

To that end, “physical disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting in January 2028,” says Shuman. After that date, new games will only be available in digital format on the PlayStation Store and at retailers. Games released or due for release on disc before 2028 won’t be affected.

“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs,” says Shuman. “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”

Today’s announcement might be shocking, but it isn’t all that surprising. In PlayStation’s 2025 Q4 financial report (via Genki on X), the company stated that 85% of games sold on the platform were purchased digitally. This is a trend we’ve seen across all gaming consoles over the past decade, with acceleration during the pandemic.

Given this news, it’s safe to assume that the yet-to-be-announced PS6 won’t have a disc drive. The same might also be true for the upcoming Xbox Project Helix, which is reportedly going to be a midway point between a console and a PC. Speaking of PC, that platform has been all-digital for ages as well, showing that gamers are generally already used to not owning physical copies of their games.

We reached out to Stop Killing Games (a consumer rights group) for comment about this story. They said gamers want assurances that their games won’t be taken from them after purchase, and that decisions like this only serve to erode that trust.

“Digital games in themselves are not a problem and have multiple advantages for both parties when run responsibly, giving customers the freedom to back up their game sometimes in ways better than physical copies,” says Stop Killing Games. “When handled irresponsibly, they're a death sentence for games, which is what has led to the Stop Killing Games movement in the first place.”

Lastly, PlayStation also says it is closing the PS3 and PS Vita digital stores. Closures start this August in select markets and will happen globally by July of 2027. You will still be able to download previously purchased games after the closing dates "for the foreseeable future." If you want to purchase any PS3 or Vita games digitally, do it now before those stores are closed for good.

This is certainly devastating news for fans of physical games. If you fall into that camp, there isn't much you can do when the time comes. However, I expect companies like Limited Run Games to release physical versions of PS5 games even after this policy goes into place, so that is at least one option for select games. But for the PS6, it appears there won't be any choice but to play games digitally.

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The leak in question comes from Kepler_K2 (via Insider Gamer), who has a decent track record of hardware leaks. Kepler claims that the BoM (bill of materials) for the PS6 has jumped up by $200 since March of this year. Where the console cost $760 to manufacture, it will now cost $960. The PS5 Pro saw a similar price hike, rising from $699 to $899 after two price increases.

Unfortunately, the PS6 could cost even more to manufacture. As Wccftech reports, an X user named Jukan posted a report from the banking firm Jefferies that claims to have spoken with a tech analyst about the RAM crisis. The expert predicts that RAM and SSD will see a 40% to 50% hike in Q3 2026 and another 30% to 40% hike in the final quarter of this year. If this happens, then the PS6’s cost will undoubtedly shoot beyond the $1,000 range.

Sony and other console manufacturers have typically sold systems at a loss to recoup their costs through software sales. VGC reports that during a Q&A session with Sony’s Game & Network Services division, one attendee asked if Sony would subsidize the cost of its next-gen hardware. Sony said the company doesn’t plan to sell hardware “at significant losses” but is “monitoring the market.”

Given all of these factors, it’s unrealistic to assume the PS6 will be south of $1,000 if things continue on their current trajectory. Indeed, if prices continue to skyrocket, a $1,000 asking price might be the best-case scenario. If that’s the case, then many folks will be priced out of next-gen consoles.

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That's where Amazon Prime Day sales come in: they're a great time to grab a PS5 game without breaking the bank. As a lover of video games, I've handpicked my top deals. The cheapest game you can buy right now is Lost Soul Aside which is down to just $9 from $59 — how could you say no to that? For football fans, EA Sports FC 26 is 64% off right now, and it's the ideal game to play during halftime as the FIFA World Cup gathers steam.

My top choice, though? Why, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, of course, which is available for $39 right now ($33 would have been more fitting, but oh well). It's a game I can't shut up about and one I recommend every gamer needs to play at least once.

That's not all. There are plenty more deals to be taken advantage of, on sports, horror, RPG, and action-adventure games. So, without further ado, here are my top Prime Day PS5 game deals (so far).

Meet your PS5 games deals expert

Quick links

• Shop all Amazon Prime Day deals now
• Lost Soul Aside: was $59 now $9
• EA Sports FC 26: was $69 now $24
• Elden Ring: was $49 now $19
• Metal Gear Solid Δ Snake Eater: was $49 now $24
• Silent Hill 2: was $39 now $19
• Assassin's Creed Shadows: was $50 now $29
• Star Wars Outlaws: was $19 now $14
• Clair Obscur: Expedition 33: was $49 now $39
• Resident Evil Requiem: was $69 now $55

Best Prime Day PS5 games deals

We're tracking all the best Prime Day PS5 deals

Some games were simply fun to play or made me laugh with friends, but didn't stick with me after the credits rolled (if I made it to the credits). And then, some games consumed my thoughts and made me want to stay up way too late or abandon all my responsibilities to play them, thanks to mesmerizing worlds, gripping stories, and/or addictive combat.

Luckily, there are some highly rated gems I still haven't played yet (top of list is Astro Bot), but the 12 titles below will always be some of my favorite games.