PS5 Home Screen Overrun by Ads: A Bug or a New Feature?

Recently, players of the PS5 noticed an increase in advertisements cluttering the home screen following a recent update. The interface now displays various promotions for new games, trailers, and announcements from developers, replacing the usual custom game artwork that typically shows when selecting a game. There's no need for concern, as the gaming company has stated that what users are experiencing is a bug rather than an intentional feature.

Normally, each game on the PS5 showcases a unique, high-resolution image that appears upon hovering over the game on the home screen. However, users have reported that these stylish backgrounds have been swapped with unwanted advertisements, which seem to be drawing from an outdated publisher news feed. While it might be irritating for users, the company has clarified that this situation was not intended.

According to a senior product manager, players should rest assured, as this is just a new bug related to an ongoing feature. Although there lacks a comprehensive clarification of the manner in which this issue arose or when it will be resolved, it is clear that it is not meant to be a permanent state, and the company is aware of the problem.

The introduction of the PS5's new 'welcome hub' accompanied a firmware update earlier this month, possibly linking this glitch to that upgrade. However, given how long it took for this strange behavior to surface on the home screen, it suggests that there may be additional underlying issues. The official announcement did not indicate any modifications to the news feed, so players remain hopeful for a swift resolution.

Additionally, Sony's decision not to include a disc drive in the PS5 Pro has sparked discussions among users. The company claims that this offers gamers more choices, allowing them the option to pay extra for physical games that a majority of players own.