The recent PS5 system software update, released in September 2024, has sparked controversy among users due to an increase in ads on the home screen, which have replaced the usual custom game art.

Interestingly, the official announcement regarding the firmware update did not mention any changes to the news feed, leading many to believe this was an oversight.

While some games like 'Astro Bot' and 'Yakuza Kiwami 2' remain unaffected by these ads, others are displaying unrelated promotional content, causing confusion.

For instance, users reported seeing ads for 'Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse,' a film released in June 2023, when hovering over 'Marvel's Spider-Man: Miles Morales,' highlighting the disconnect between the ads and the games.

Compounding the frustration, users found that the only way to remove these ads was to disconnect the console from the internet, which severely limits functionality.

PlayStation has since confirmed that the ad issue was not an intended feature but rather a bug, although many players remain skeptical about the future of this change.

Gamers have expressed their annoyance online, urging Sony to either eliminate the ads or enhance their relevance to improve the overall user experience.

Adding to the confusion, PlayStation senior product manager Daniel Hiatt initially suggested the situation might be a bug but later deleted his post, leaving users uncertain.

In addition to the ad issues, players faced another setback when the PlayStation Network went offline on October 1, further complicating the gaming experience.

The article invites readers to share their experiences regarding the ad increase, questioning whether this is a significant issue for the community.

Concerns are growing that these game-specific ads could evolve into more intrusive external promotions in the future, mirroring frustrations seen with other gaming platforms.

As of the article's publication, PlayStation has not publicly addressed the backlash from fans regarding the increased visibility of ads.