Today, Sony drove another nail into the coffin of Twitter (or X). Sony will be removing users’ ability to “view any content published on PS5/PS4, and the ability to post and view content, trophies, and other gameplay-related activities on X [sic] directly from PS5/PS4.” Their website notes that the last day users can directly post and view content on Twitter will be November 13th.
Sony joins Microsoft, who also disabled sharing to Twitter earlier this year. While Sony hasn’t discussed their reasoning, it could be the same as Microsoft’s. Microsoft found that Twitter’s new API requirements would cost the company more than $40,000 per month. They may have decided that posting directly to Twitter’s dying social network just wasn’t worth the money.
Maybe Microsoft and Sony came to the same conclusion: Twitter’s not worth the money, not as it becomes a cesspool of hate, circling the drain.
Sharing Still (Kind of) Permitted
Users can still use the mobile app to download screenshots and videos from their PlayStation, or use a USB drive to bring their recorded content from their PlayStation to any other device. Then, they can share using whatever platform they like. Personally, I’m a fan of Discord messages to my friends, but if you’re the type of person still using Twitter, you’re free to upload your content to Elon Musk’s website from another device. You just won’t be able to do it directly from your PlayStation 4 or PlayStation 5.
It’s funny, the “Share” button on both the PS4 and PS5 controllers was made specifically to share to social networks like Twitter. In the early days, it was a feature that console manufacturers like Sony and Microsoft used to sell the social aspect of their consoles, how they could easily make and share content. Now, both have seemingly realized that Twitter isn’t worth the effort. It’s interesting how such a small thing like a new owner can change a situation so dramatically.
For now, the last modern console that allows direct sharing to Twitter is Nintendo’s Switch.
For now.
Sources:
- Oscar Gonzalez, Gizmodo
- Michael McWhertor, Polygon
- PlayStation
- George Yang, IGN