iWorld
RBI invites producers to make series about itself
Mumbai: We don’t see this happening very often. The Reserve Bank of India has placed a tender notice through which it is inviting producers, OTT platforms, TV channels to produce a series about itself. The series is expected to highlight the central bank’s journey as it enters its ninetieth year.
The notice has invited interested parties to take part in the process through a two-bid system (technical and financial). A budget of Rs 70 million ($836,000-odd) has been kept aside for the production. Bidders have to submit an earnest money deposit of Rs 1.4 million through a bank guarantee.
The Rs 70 million is expected to cover the cost of production and distribution with the former accounting for a minimum of 70 per cent of the overall expenses.
The details of the tender are available by clicking on the link below.
https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewTenders.aspx?Id=10499
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.
