PlayStation Reportedly Launching A New Feature Amid Console Price Increase News

PlayStation is reportedly adding a new revolutionary feature soon that would make it easier for gamers to communicate and teams and communities to organize.

A new report claimed that full integration of Discord is coming to PlayStation consoles via version 7.00, with patch 6.00 slated to roll out sometime in mid-September. Over the past couple of months, the team has been reportedly in the quality assurance stage of the implementation of Discord on the Japanese gaming console, with the application going very well, the report added.

For those wondering what the upcoming feature is about, it simply means that PlayStation users would be able to sign in to Discord using their consoles and use Voice Over IP or VoIP services to talk to other PlayStation users. This said integration is the product of the partnership between Sony and Discord, which started in 2021.

Sony announced its partnership with Discord in May of last year with Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan saying that the team is constantly trying to find new solutions it could bring to players to let them connect.

“At PlayStation, we’re constantly looking for new ways to enable players around the world to connect with one another, form new friendships and communities, and share fun experiences and lasting memories. It’s in this spirit that we’re excited to announce a new partnership with Discord, the communication service popularized by gamers and used by more than 140 million people every month around the world.” the executive said in a blog post released in May 2021.

At the time, Ryan said, “Together, our teams are already hard at work connecting Discord with your social and gaming experience on PlayStation Network.” He added, “our goal is to bring the Discord and PlayStation experiences closer together on console and mobile starting early next year, allowing friends, groups, and communities to hang out, have fun, and communicate more easily while playing games together.”

Discord has more than 350 million users spanning across the globe and gained popularity among gamers and other communities in various industries. The latest news about the full integration of Discord on PlayStation consoles came at the heels of a report that Sony is planning to increase the price of its gaming consoles.

In a blog post released on August 25, Ryan announced that the price of Sony’s new-generation gaming console, the PS5, will increase in “select markets.” The executive cited “challenging economic conditions” such as “high global inflation rates” and “adverse currency trends” as determining factors for the decision.

Japan is the first region to see a 21% price increase on September 15 for the PS5 Blu-Ray model. Sony has not yet shared when the price increase will take effect in the U.K., Europe, Canada and other regions except in the U.S., but both models will have an increased price. For instance, the PS5 Blu-Ray model in Europe will have a 10% price increase, while the same model will see a 3% increase in Canada.

“While this price increase is a necessity given the current global economic environment and its impact on SIE’s business, our top priority continues to be improving the PS5 supply situation so that as many players as possible can experience everything that PS5 offers and what’s still to come,” Ryan assured gamers.