Epic Games vs Sony Interactive Entertainment

Doki Doki Literature Club Returns to Android via Epic Games Store

Epic Games is bringing Serenity Forge's Doki Doki Literature Club back to Android as an Epic Games Store-exclusive, following its removal from the Google Play Store in April 2026 due to sensitive themes. The game will be available later today, with a placeholder page already live on the Epic Games Store. It remains rated 18+ with warnings about disturbing content. The game is still unavailable on Google Play, but remains on other storefronts like Apple's App Store, Nintendo's eShop, PlayStation Store, and Steam. Serenity Forge had previously stated it was exploring alternate distribution methods for Android. Neither Epic nor Serenity Forge provided official confirmation at the time of publication.

• Epic Games is bringing Doki Doki Literature Club back to Android as an Epic Games Store-exclusive.
• The game was removed from the Google Play Store in April 2026 due to sensitive themes.
• A placeholder page for the game is live on the Epic Games Store, but it can only be wishlisted for now.

Epic Games Store Adds Age Verification for R18+ Games in Australia

Epic Games will require Australian players to verify they are 18 or older before purchasing or downloading R18+ rated games on the Epic Games Store starting September 9, 2026. The change complies with Australia's online safety regulations. Players can verify their age via a selfie analyzed by Yoti, a credit card check through Stripe, a government-issued ID via Veriff, or ConnectID (available later this month). Existing games and titles rated below R18+ are unaffected. The verification is privacy-preserving, with data not shared with Epic's Kids Web Services.

• Epic Games Store will require age verification for R18+ games in Australia from September 9, 2026.
• Verification methods include selfie analysis by Yoti, credit card check via Stripe, government ID via Veriff, and ConnectID.
• The change is to comply with Australia's online safety regulations.

Epic Games Launches Cross-Ecosystem Voice Chat Parties

Epic Games has launched Epic Parties, a new social feature enabling cross-ecosystem voice chat across Fortnite, the Epic Games Store, and Epic's mobile apps. This allows players to communicate seamlessly across different platforms and devices, including transferring ongoing voice chats without interruption. The feature integrates with Fortnite lobbies, so friends accepting invites join the same game session. Epic plans to expand social features beyond Fortnite later this year, including to Rocket League in 2026, and aims to make these social tools available to third-party developers across platforms and engines by 2027. The launch is part of Epic's broader strategy to create an open social ecosystem where connections and purchases can move between games.

• Epic Games launched Epic Parties, a cross-ecosystem voice chat feature.
• Epic Parties works across Fortnite, Epic Games Store, and Epic mobile apps.
• Players can transfer voice chats between devices without dropping audio.

Sony-Marketingchefin Mary Yee über datengestützte Markenführung und Brand Building

Im Adweek-Podcast 'Marketing Vanguard' spricht Mary Yee, SVP of Marketing bei Sony Interactive Entertainment, über ihren Karriereweg von der Wirtschaftsprüfung ins Brand Marketing. Nach Stationen bei Clorox und als CEO der Luxus-Hautpflegemarke Tatcha kehrte sie zu Sony zurück. Yee erläutert ihre Philosophie, nach der finanzielle Expertise und Analytics kreative Markenbildung stärken, statt sie einzuschränken. Sie betont, wie essenziell die Verbindung von Daten mit menschlicher Emotionalität ist, und veranschaulicht anhand von Franchises wie 'The Last of Us', wie IP-Ökosysteme neue Zielgruppen erschließen. Zudem legt sie dar, wie PlayStation Hardware, Spiele und Services unter einer konsistenten Master Brand bündelt. Das Gespräch bietet strategische Einblicke in branchenübergreifendes Brand Management an der Schnittstelle von Performance-Metriken und emotionalem Storytelling.

• Mary Yee verantwortet als SVP of Marketing bei Sony Interactive Entertainment die globale PlayStation-Markenstrategie.
• Ihre Laufbahn begann in der Wirtschaftsprüfung, bevor sie ins Brand Marketing bei Clorox wechselte.
• Im Jahr 2021 übernahm Yee die CEO-Rolle bei Tatcha und skalierte die Luxusmarke in 34 Länder.

Marvel's Wolverine Launches Worldwide, Exclusively on PlayStation®5

Sony Interactive Entertainment announced the worldwide launch of Marvel's Wolverine, exclusively on PlayStation 5, on September 15, 2026.

Sony scales up PlayStation advertising push

Sony appears to be building a larger advertising business around PlayStation after posting multiple ad-specific roles on its Sony Interactive Entertainment Media Solutions team in mid-2026. Openings include a global director for client partnerships (posted mid-July 2026), a director-level ad operations and technology role in San Mateo, and regional sales and operations roles in Tokyo and London. The hires signal a global ad infrastructure and monetization push covering programmatic, FAST, CTV and privacy-first data activation. Sony previously experimented with in-game and virtual-world advertising (2008) and reportedly worked on game ad insertion in 2022. Analysts note gaming captures substantial attention but currently earns a small share of digital ad spend, creating opportunity for monetization.

• Sony posted multiple ad-focused roles on its Sony Interactive Entertainment Media Solutions team in mid-2026, including a global director for client partnerships (posted mid-July 2026).
• A director-level ad operations and technology role at Sony Interactive Entertainment’s San Mateo headquarters is live and tasked with building global ad technology and operations (ad serving, programmatic, audience targeting, measurement, privacy-first data activation).
• A London advertising operations posting (described as part of PlayStation’s newly formed advertising organisation) was posted before early summer 2026 and removed before Aug. 3, 2026; a Tokyo client partner ad sales posting went up in mid-to-late July 2026 and remained live.