iWorld
Sequel-itis hits Prime Video, and it’s a good thing
MUMBAI: As Indian content creators wrestle with legacy media’s slow fade and digital fatigue’s creeping toll, one question rules the reel: how do you keep the eyeballs glued? At the 9th edition of The Content Hub Summit 2025, that was the hot topic during a no-holds-barred fireside chat between Anil NM Wanvari, founder, chairman of Indiantelevision.com, and Nikhil Madhok, director & head of originals at Prime Video India.
When asked how Prime Video picks potential hits, Madhok laid it out: “This is still a business of creative gut instinct.” While data helps identify audience clusters (young adult horror fans, for instance), final greenlights depend on whether a pitch feels fresh, unique, and emotionally resonant. “You’ve got to spot the right story and the right creator,” he said.
Apparently, it’s working. Since Prime Video’s India debut, more than 60 per cent of its scripted shows have landed second seasons or are in production. Hits like Farzi, Call Me Bae, and Dupahiya are already queuing up for follow-ups. “We’re doing something right,” Madhok commented.
Of course, not everything sticks. “Failure teaches,” Madhok admitted. Whether due to weak casting or saggy plotlines, misses do happen. But unless there’s real love for a first season and a compelling new arc, Prime won’t risk a sequel. “It’s unfair to the audience and the legacy of the show.”
Amazon is now reversing the stream-to-cinema flow. Under its new banner Amazon MGM Studios, it’ll release 4–6 films theatrically starting 2026. “It’s come full circle,” said Madhok. “We’re backing great scripts with box-office potential.” Four titles are already filming; two are in the can.
A quarter of Prime Video’s Indian content viewership already comes from outside the country, with appearances in weekly global top-10 on Prime Video every week in 2024. But that breakout K-drama-style success? Still brewing. “We haven’t had that one global story yet, but it’s coming,” Madhok promised.
Meanwhile, Prime Video’s focus remains on home turf. Over 100 projects are in the pipeline, spanning languages, formats, and genres, from Family Man 3 and Mirzapur: The Movie, to new IP like Revolutionaries and the unscripted hit The Traitors.
AI, Madhok said, should be embraced, not feared. “Like every technology before it, AI can enable storytelling.” Prime Video is also watching the short-form and creator economy space closely though that’s currently MX Player’s turf within the Amazon family.
As Indian storytelling hits a new stride, Prime Video is betting big on creative instinct, strategic risk and the timeless power of a good story. “Stories drive civilisations forward,” Madhok said. “And that hasn’t changed in a hundred years.”
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.
