Newsletter
Suspending operations or stopping sales of products in Russia is fast becoming the norm for large corporations, and PlayStation is the latest to join the pack. Following companies like Nintendo, Microsoft, Ubisoft, EA, and many others, Sony Interactive Entertainment is suspending shipments of PlayStation products in Russia.
The suspension will include shipments of both hardware and software. Which means Sony will, for the time being, no longer be shipping hardware like the PS5 and its accessories and software like physical game discs to the country. But it doesn’t stop there.
Sony is also stopping operations of the PlayStation store in Russia. Locking out consumers from purchasing digital versions of any games. Nintendo took the exact same approach and put the eShop in Russia into maintenance mode. Due to the payment processing system that the eShop uses in the region suspending processing of Rubles.
In addition to shipments, PlayStation suspends the launch of Gran Turismo 7 in Russia
Sony Interactive Entertainment’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine seems to be a fairly hardline stance. Not only suspending shipments of any hardware and software, but also cutting Russia off from one of the console’s biggest game launches this year – Gran Turismo 7. This is one of Sony’s own game franchises. And it will be a huge display of the PS5’s performance power.
To top it all off, consumers can no longer buy digital games via the PlayStation Store. Essentially cutting off players in the region from any new PlayStation products beyond what’s already on the shelves at retailers.
Additionally, SIE says that Sony has donated $2 million to the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees. Sony says it joins the global community in calling for peace in Ukraine. And that it’s shipment suspensions and donations are in support of victims impacted by the war.
As the war continues, more companies are likely to join this ban of sales. Both within the gaming industry and outside of it. Sony Interactive Entertainment is simply the latest, but it probably won’t be the last. Sony’s announcement follows the latest PlayStation State of Play where it just revealed a handful of new game titles.
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) March 9, 2022