The official release of the PS5 in 2020 was one of the most memorable gaming moments in recent history, especially considering that we were still in the pandemic era and gaming helped people through that difficult time. Among the innovations Sony claimed for their latest console back then was its capability to support an 8K resolution for media playback and potential future gaming updates.
However, with Sony’s recent change to their PS5 packaging by removing the “8K” tag, many fans have begun to scrutinize the company and question if the PS5’s 8K claims were just a ploy to attract gamers to buy the console.
8K? Sign Me Up
The 8K resolution is 7680 x 4320 pixels, boasting far better quality than the existing 4K at the time of the PS5 release (the human 20/20 eye is comparable to 16K in resolution terms). Sony emphasized the console’s 8K media support as one of the main upgrades.
The transition from 4K to 8K still had an issue—many PS5 consumers use 4K resolution TVs. For practical reasons, the added cost of getting a new television just for a gaming console was not a priority. Could this be one of the reasons why the 8K claim wasn’t brought to light until recently?
What Happened?
One consumer recently noticed the missing “8K” logo on the new PS5 packaging and shared it on X (Twitter). Sony’s undisclosed change had fans scrutinizing the PS5’s capabilities. Some noticed that 8K wasn’t even included on the console’s menu, raising even more confusion and doubt. Sony has yet to address the issue and make an official statement about whether the accusations are true.
This incident has caused many to accuse Sony of false advertising. In the US, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces regulations against false advertisements and marketing ploys. If Sony is proven to have purposely deceived its customers, the company will face not only public outrage but also legal consequences.
The PS Vita Case
This is not the first time Sony has faced issues regarding a marketing ploy. In 2014, the company was accused of falsely claiming that the PlayStation Vita supported 3G and multiplayer cross-platform play for all PS3 games. Sony implied that the 3G model could be used for live, multiplayer gaming over a 3G network, which was not true. The FTC considered this a form of false advertising.
The FTC then ordered Sony to send a mail to those who purchased the PS Vita before June 1, 2012, and give those customers compensation: a choice of a $25 cash refund or a $50 merchandise voucher.
“As part of its launch campaign for the PS Vita, Sony claimed that the pocket-sized console would revolutionize gaming mobility by enabling consumers to play their PlayStation 3 games via ‘remote play,’ and that they could engage in ‘cross-platform’ play by starting a game on a PS3 and then continuing it on the go, right where they left off, on a PS Vita. The FTC alleges that each of these claims was misleading.” – FTC
In addition to the monetary compensation, Sony agreed not to make similar false claims about the PS Vita and future handheld devices.
“IT IS ORDERED that respondent, directly or through any corporation, partnership, subsidiary, division, trade name, or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, labeling, advertising, promotion, offering for sale, sale, or distribution of any Handheld Game Console Product, in or affecting commerce, shall not misrepresent, in any manner, expressly or by implication, including through the use of a product name, endorsement, depiction, or illustration, any material gaming feature or capability of such product when used as a standalone device to play video games.” – FTC
While this case didn’t include consoles as part of the agreement, this ruling and investigation can still be used as a reference and possibly as evidence that Sony used misleading ads for its products.
Sony removes “3G”
The removal of “3G” from PS Vita boxes and the ongoing PS5 8K controversy may appear similar, but it’s important to note that there is no evidence suggesting a direct link between the FTC lawsuit and Sony’s decision to discontinue the 3G model. However, the coincidence of these events raises interesting questions about the company’s marketing practices and product decisions.
Not the First, but Should be the Last (if Proven)
Sony is not the first giant company to be scrutinized for misleading customers.
- As previously discussed, NVIDIA made a ‘small’ fib when they claimed the GeForce GTX 970 was a 4GB VRAM, but in actuality, only 3.5GB was usable. NVIDIA was then ordered to pay $1.3 million in attorney fees and had to compensate those who purchased the GTX 970.
- Not exactly false advertising, but the controversial Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 “No Russian” mission, which involved a terrorist attack on civilians in the game, sparked outrage and accusations of promoting violence. While the controversy didn’t significantly impact sales, it led to increased scrutiny of violent content in video games and raised questions about the ethical responsibilities of game developers.
- Red Bull’s iconic slogan, “Red Bull gives you wings,” was also the center of ‘false advertising’ claims for implying that their drink provided physical and mental benefits beyond a typical caffeine boost. Red Bull ended up shelling out $13 million to settle.
At the time of writing, “The Touryst” is the only game with limited 8K support through supersampling.
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