For the first time in the history of the gaming industry, a major piece of hardware is getting a price increase across virtually the entire world. PlayStation 5, launched in 2020 at $500 or your local equivalent, will still cost that much (with a disc drive) here in the States. But virtually everywhere else in the world -- from the UK and Europe to Australia, Japan, and beyond -- PS5's price is about to go up modestly, but noticeably. Sony no doubt isn't taking this PR catastrophe lightly -- you have to imagine there's a need here -- and, indeed, this highly-controversial will help them make an additional half-a-billion bucks this year alone. But with market conditions as they are, inflation running rampant, and production as trying as ever, the only question is whether any of their competitors follow-suit, and whether Sony itself is done upping the ante. Other news includes the reveal of PlayStation's long-awaited Elite-style controller called DualSense Edge, confirmation that PSVR2 will launch in early 2023, release dates for Dead Island 2, Sonic Frontiers, and more. and so on. Then, we wrap things up (as we always do) with listener inquiries. What's with some outlets slamming Saints Row, then accepting money to promote it anyway? Is it becoming increasingly difficult to avoid the industry's inherent negativity? Will Sony ever begin caring about their PlayStation Mobile initiative? Should one listener's public bathroom encounter have left him as scared as it has?
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