iWorld
Sony LIV wins ‘Best App for Large Screens’ at Google Play’s Best of 2024 awards
Mumbai: Sony LIV, a leader in India’s streaming landscape, has been honoured with the prestigious “Best App for Large Screens” award at Google Play’s Best of 2024 Awards in India. This accolade highlights Sony LIV’s exceptional commitment to delivering immersive entertainment experiences tailored for larger devices, such as tablets, allowing users to enjoy premium sports and high-quality content like never before.
The Google Play Best of Awards celebrates excellence in product innovation and user experience, and Sony LIV’s seamless and engaging interface stood out for enhancing content discovery and navigation on large screens.
Sony LIV’s rich content library includes blockbuster TV shows, original series, movies, and live sports, all powered by cutting-edge technology that ensures a superior user experience across platforms. By consistently blending innovation with engaging storytelling, Sony LIV remains a preferred choice for audiences nationwide.
Sony LIV, head of growth & monetisation, Manish Aggarwal expressed his excitement, stating: “We are thrilled to receive this esteemed award from Google Play. This achievement is a testament to our long-standing partnership with Google and due to our consistent efforts in providing users with seamless, engaging, and immersive screen agnostic viewing experiences. Our team has worked tirelessly to optimize the platform, ensuring users enjoy unparalleled entertainment and sports, anywhere, anytime across platforms and devices. This award motivates us to continue innovating and setting new benchmarks within the industry.”
This recognition reinforces Sony LIV’s dedication to advancing streaming technology and elevating audience experiences. With this milestone, the platform aims to continue setting industry benchmarks and expanding its reach across diverse viewing preferences.
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.
