PlayStation and Xbox “Stand Together” Amid Ongoing Protests After George Floyd’s Death

Last week, after months of hype, Sony finally announced the long-awaited games reveal event for their next-gen console, Playstation 5. Scheduled to take place on June 4 as a digital event, PlayStation loyalists, and gamers in general eagerly waited for a glimpse of the future of gaming. That was until Sony postponed the event yesterday.

The postponement comes in the wake of widespread protests against police brutality and racial profiling in the United States. In such an unprecedented situation, Sony acted quickly, to its credit. As the United States and the world are in a turmoil of emotions, it’s the right time for “more important voices to be heard,” not for “celebration.”

Playstation 5 event postponed indefinitely

On June 1, Sony made the announcement across PlayStation’s Twitter, and Facebook handles.

“While we understand gamers worldwide are excited to see PS5 games, we do not feel that right now is a time for celebration, and for now, we want to stand back and allow more important voices to be heard.”

“We denounce systemic racism and violence against the black community,” read another Twitter message from PlayStation.

The reason for the postponement is the ensuing chaos in the aftermath of George Floyd’s unjust death in Minneapolis. The 46-year-old African-American man was handcuffed and pinned against the street by police officers. Specifically, a Caucasian officer knelt on his neck for almost nine minutes. Unable to move or breathe, Floyd died due to suffocation.

Consequently, protestors demanding justice for Floyd’s death took to the streets. Some demonstrations ended up in violence, which left several buildings, businesses and vehicles damaged and torched. The mass protests have spread across the United States, and thus, Sony decided to lead by example. Their empathetic gesture shows that humanity comes before business. For now, Sony has not confirmed the new date for the PS5 event.

Read more: Gaming Community Reacts To The Death Of George Floyd And It’s Aftermath

Gaming companies stand together

Xbox later retweeted PlayStation’s tweet in an act of solidarity. During tough times, even the biggest of rivals “stand together.”

Just like Sony, Microsoft also displayed an inclusive gesture amid the growing unrest. They are rallied with “fans, creators, colleagues, friends, and the entire African-American & Black community against systemic racism and injustice.”

Meanwhile, Electronic Arts has postponed plans for its Madden NFL 21 celebration event. Google also made a similar decision to delay the announcement for Andriod 11 beta.

With the United States on the brink of utter chaos, the big companies have stepped forward to bring some balance. In such sensitive times, empathetic actions and gestures are the best way to show inclusiveness and solidarity.