Gaming
NBA takes a shot at AI with AWS as its official cloud partner
MUMBAI: From slam dunks to cloud chunks, basketball is getting a digital makeover. The National Basketball Association (NBA) has inked a multi-year deal with Amazon Web Services (AWS), making the tech giant its official cloud and cloud AI partner across the NBA, WNBA, NBA G League, Basketball Africa League and NBA 2K League.
The partnership will tip off with the launch of NBA Inside the Game powered by AWS, a basketball intelligence platform designed to crunch billions of data points and spin them into real-time insights, snappy stats and interactive fan experiences. Think play-by-play breakdowns, AI-driven analysis, and content that takes fans closer to the action than ever before whether on the NBA App, NBA.com, or social channels.
“Partnering with AWS provides us with an opportunity to elevate the live game experience through innovation and offer fans a deeper understanding of the game of basketball for years to come,” said NBA executive vice president and head of media operations and technology Ken DeGennaro. “AWS has a proven track record of delivering unique statistical insights and offering transformative experiences that will resonate with NBA fans around the world.”
For AWS, it’s a chance to show off how its AI infrastructure and cloud firepower can change the game. “At AWS, we’re excited by the NBA’s vision to push the boundaries of what’s possible in sports. This partnership will showcase how cloud and AI can reimagine the game of basketball from generating new insights to creating experiences that bring fans closer to the game they love,” said AWS vice president of professional services & agentic AI, Francessca Vasquez.
The deal not only strengthens AWS’s growing sports tech portfolio but also positions the NBA as a pioneer in using AI and cloud-driven storytelling to keep fans dunking into data and drama. With this courtship, the game won’t just be played on hardwood—it’ll be streamed, simulated, and supercharged in the cloud.
Gaming
Sony raises PS5 prices for second time in under a year
US disc edition jumps $100 to $649.99 as memory costs surge.
MUMBAI: Sony just hit the pause button on affordable gaming because when memory prices skyrocket, even the Playstation has to pay the premium. Sony has announced its second price increase for the Playstation 5 range in less than a year, citing pressures in the global economic landscape and a sharp rise in memory component costs driven by AI demand.
In the US, the PS5 disc edition will rise from $549.99 to $649.99, a $100 hike while the digital edition increases to $599.99. The more powerful PS5 Pro will jump $150 to $899.99. The Playstation Portal remote player will also rise by $50 to $249.99. The new prices take effect on 2 April 2026.
Similar increases have been applied in the UK (£90 per model), Europe and Japan. Sony last raised PS5 prices in the US in August 2025.
“We know that price changes impact our community, and after careful evaluation, we found this was a necessary step to ensure we can continue delivering innovative, high-quality gaming experiences to players worldwide,” Sony said in a blog post.
The hikes come amid an unprecedented surge in memory prices, as manufacturers prioritise supply for AI data centres. Analysts say Sony had likely secured price protections for components that have now expired, forcing the company to protect its hardware margins.
Ampere Analysis research director of games Piers Harding-Rolls told CNBC that further increases from Microsoft and Nintendo would not be surprising, though Nintendo may hesitate to raise the price of its recently launched Switch 2 while establishing the new platform.
The increases arrive eight months before the highly anticipated release of GTA 6, which is expected to drive strong console sales. However, early reactions online have been a mix of disappointment and resignation, with growing concern that premium gaming is increasingly becoming a hobby for higher-income players.
In a sector already grappling with tariffs, inflation and component shortages, Sony’s move underscores a tough reality: even the most popular consoles are not immune to the rising cost of keeping up with the latest technology.
