iWorld
PFT launches Clear AI to simplify the Foreign Language Mastering process
Mumbai: Multi-platform content fulfilment demand from the library continues to grow exponentially. Fulfilment encompasses activities that include the most appropriate content identification, determination, and creation of missing material; aligning all pieces of content, including video, audio, and text artefacts; and developing ready-to-distribute masters. Prime Focus Technologies (PFT) said that its clients believe these activities are highly laborious, time-consuming, and expensive when done at scale. This includes custom work and massive coordination between internal studio teams and global vendors, resulting in an extended timeline, a slower go-to-market, and delayed monetisation.
Therefore, it has introduced Clear AI to simplify the Foreign Language Mastering process, which includes: assisting the mastering team in creating international masters with AI tools to help human efforts offer convenience, speed, efficiency, and faster time to monetization; automatically identifying languages in dubs, subs, and on-screen text; identifying metadata and segments to master from multiple versions; comparing versions and determining the best master to conform; helping confirm foreign language assets (dubs and subtitles) even across multiple frame rates; automatically creating forced narration files that can be localised; and identifying and packaging foreign language masters in the specified format.
“A powerful combination of identifying languages and content segments, comparing versions, conforming, and packaging masters using AI boosts operational productivity by at least 3X. This makes the process simple and as easy as possible for both businesses and editors. With an AI-driven approach, Foreign Language Mastering works at exceptional scale and speed like never before,” said PFT senior VP & head of product management Murali Sridhar.
Clients can use Clear AI to create fully localised foreign language file masters for distribution in multiple international territories. The company also claims a 60-75 percent reduction in editorial/conform effort, as well as increased efficiencies, speed, and time to market.
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.
