Los Angeles, California – PlayStation 5 users have recently raised concerns regarding the appearance of advertisements on the console’s home screen. These ads, which are difficult to remove, have left gamers frustrated with the outdated and confusing content being displayed.
According to reports, users can only get rid of the ads by disconnecting from the internet, limiting the console’s functionality. Previously, the PS5 dashboard had ads, but not on the home screen. Now, users are greeted with ads when hovering over a game title, with some displaying content that is no longer relevant.
For instance, an ad for “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” was shown when hovering over the Marvel’s Spider-Man: Miles Morales game, even though the movie was released in June 2023. Similarly, NBA 2K25 users saw an ad for early access, even though the game had already been released earlier this month.
It appears that the console is pulling in the latest news for each game, which could include YouTube videos, patch notes, or announcements for different games. However, there have been mix-ups reported, such as an ad for “LEGO Horizon Adventures” appearing when hovering over the “Horizon Zero Dawn” icon.
While some games like Astro Bot have remained unaffected by the changes, many gamers have expressed annoyance, disappointment, and confusion over the intrusive ads. Some users have taken to social media platforms to voice their concerns, with one Reddit user expressing confusion while playing through the Spiderman series.
The addition of non-removable ads to the PS5 home screen has prompted speculation about the reasons behind the change. Some users have linked it to a recent firmware update, while others have suggested that Sony may be trying to make up for financial losses with advertisement revenue. Ars Technica has reached out to Sony for clarification on this matter.
As users await further updates on the issue, it remains to be seen how Sony will address the backlash from gamers who are advocating for the removal or improvement of the intrusive ad feature on the PS5.