Sony Quietly Drops 8K Label from PlayStation 5 Packaging

Sony has made a subtle change to the packaging of its PlayStation 5 (PS5) console. The company has removed the 8K label that has been prominently displayed on the front of the box since the console's launch.

Representation — (Photo : PS5 / Screenshot taken from the Amazon.)

New Packaging Reflects Current Features

As noticed by Digital Foundry's John Linneman, the updated PS5 boxes now only show tags for 4K/120 fps and HDR capabilities. The absence of the 8K label suggests a shift in focus for Sony, despite the company's initial promise of 8K support. The PlayStation Direct website also reflects this change, with the 8K tag missing from the PS5 product pages.

Before the PS5 was released in 2020, Sony announced that the console would support 8K displays and could output 8K resolution after a future software update. However, nearly four years later, true 8K gaming content remains scarce. The only notable exception is a game called "The Touryst," which offers 8K resolution.

Limited 8K Adoption

The slow adoption of 8K technology in the TV market might be a reason for Sony's quiet move. With few 8K TVs in households, there has been little demand for 8K gaming. Sony is not the only company facing this issue; Microsoft also highlighted 8K capabilities for its Xbox Series X. However, Xbox head Phil Spencer described 8K as an "aspirational technology," noting that it could be many years before 8K becomes standard in video games, if it ever does.