UPDATE: 2025-08-01 16:57 EST BY LARA JACKSON
PlayStation Has Now Responded
The officialAskPlayStationX account has responded to the ad controversy, citing the problem as an unintended bug and not a new feature. Original story as follows.
A newPlayStation 5update that aimed to overhaul the user interface for the better has overwhelmed users with ads instead. The software update went live on September 12 and rolled out a “new and improved” welcome hub. However, users are finding that their consoles are now showing them full-page ads for games they already own.
According to thePlayStation Blog,the new Welcome hub is a customizable variation of the PS5 Explore tab.It’s meant to make the space cater to each individual player and give them news and updates from both their friends and the games they own. In addition to customizable widgets, the Welcome hub allows players to change their backgrounds from pre-created images or even use the player’s screenshots for added customization.
However, PS5 users are now reporting that the update has flooded their screens with ads for the games already in their libraries.Atheerioson ResetEra compiled a few of these reports from users on X likeJuganawtandalfredobofa, where they sharefor every featured game they own.
Why The PS5 Is Showing Players Ads For Already-Owned Games
The Feature Might Be Here To Stay
The issue seems to be caused by the news feed for each game.Users are hoping that this is a bug that will get patched out, but it’s also quite possible that the feature is working as intended. Despite the desperate outcry from fans, Sony has a track record ofintroducing unpopular features that take off.
Reddit usermikelman999notes that the idea behind this is likely to promote new updates for already-owned games. However,the execution is poorly thought out,and, in reality, “it just ends up covering your screen with irrelevant information that’s potentially a decade out of date.” Being able to see at a glance when a game receives an update would be great marketing for titles players already have in their library, but the way Sony is implementing the idea is not sitting well with some users.
Our Take: The PS5 News Only Looks Like Ads Sometimes
It Looks Fine When Games Are Up To Date
It seems this is only an issue for games that haven’t updated in a while or have outdated information in their news feed. That said,I do hope that Sony adds an option to turn this feature off,so users don’t have to see old information cluttering up their home page. It seems especially important for Sony to keep its fanbase happy at this moment sincethe announcement of the PS5 Pro’s priceand features has left many feeling unhappy with the direction the company is taking.
I booted up my own PS5 to see this in action and I do see the latest news as the main image for each of my games there. However, none of my news pages are intrusive andthey don’t look like ads. In fact, if I hadn’t read about people’s experiences with their consoles, I probably wouldn’t have even realized that anything had changed.
ThePlayStation 5update was meant to bring more customization options to the console. Users are hoping that Sony will hear their cries and allow them to turn off having to see updates and news for their games in favor of more streamlined, easy-on-the-eyes options.
