Today marks the first day of Pride Month, a time to celebrate America’s diversity and show support for our LGBT community. And in that tradition, Sony is kicking things into gear with a clear show of support in the form of an LGBT PS4 theme. The theme, previously available only for European PS4 owners, can now be downloaded in America free of charge.
Sony aptly titled the LGBT PS4 theme “For All The Players,” standing firm in their support for a community all too often underrepresented in video games. The theme boasts a varied color palette, with rainbow-like stripes and the PlayStation 4 DualShock controller’s four buttons displayed in-line across the home screen.
Continuing in theme, the menu icons are displayed in gold, bringing the whole aesthetic to a mirror polish. At the bottom, the Pride Month-inspired theme emphasizes Sony and PlayStation’s support “for all players.” It’s a subtle, yet warming gesture and a reminder of the gaming community’s inclusive nature. It’s a hub for the downtrodden, and an escape from the fears and anxieties of a world divided.
In terms of reach, Sony’s PlayStation 4 is an awesome platform for the message. Judging from sales figures, the Pride Month PS4 theme is likely to make quite an impact. In fact, a recent financial report revealed that 79 million PS4 units have been sold since March 31st, and that another 16 million are expected to sell before the end of the fiscal year. That puts the PS4 on pace to overtake the PS3, at least in terms of sales.
If Sony’s LGBT pride is convincing Xbox loyalists to take another look at the PS4, now’s a great time to jump aboard the PlayStation train. In time for their “Days of Play” campaign, which will offer software and hardware discounts, a new PS4 is being released with a special theme that looks pretty slick. The cobalt PS4 is coming in at $299 and will be bundled with a campaign-themed controller.