Sony takes a very decisive position in the Russia-Ukraine affair, given and considered that PlayStation will stop selling its software and consoles in Russia. The decision by the Japanese company is one of the most significant moves in the video game industry, especially as experts say PlayStation has the majority in Russia over any other console manufacturer.
Lewis Ward, head of games at research firm IDC, made the following statements:
It has the largest installed user base, so if there's one company that has had to make a very difficult commercial choice on the console side, it's Sony.
A Sony representative also stated that the company has already suspended all software and hardware shipments to Russia, as well as the launch of the new Gran Turismo 7 (find more details in our dedicated news right here). The PlayStation Store will also no longer be available. Here are the company's words:
Sony Interactive Entertainment joins the global community to call for peace in Ukraine. To support humanitarian aid, Sony Group Corporation made a $ 2 million donation to UNHCR and the NGO Save the Children to support the victims of this tragedy.
This is arguably one of the biggest news in the gaming arena right now, but it's just the latest in a big trail. Among the most significant actions we find those of Facebook and YouTube (if you are interested you can click here and here respectively), but also important figures such as Elon Musk have moved to help Ukraine (as you will have understood, you can find more details at this link). We will see if in the coming weeks other companies will also take this decision as an example, given that the matter is becoming more and more serious every day.
For the moment, therefore, the news on the development of relations between Russia and PlayStation ends here, we just have to wait for further updates on the story, hoping that soon everything can end.
