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Rumor: Did PS5 Physical Game Cases Get a Stealth Change From Blue to Black?

Airbus Jr

Banned
When the new case and box art design template for PS5 games was first shown off, the updated black PS5 logo on the white bar across the top was criticized by some for appearing weird next to the game’s actual blue plastic case. It looks like Sony may have made a stealth change to the PS5 case design, now opting for a black plastic case to match the new black and white aesthetic of the logo and top bar. The new rumor comes courtesy of 2K, who tweeted out images of the NBA 2K21 box art featuring a black plastic case.

Two images were featured, one for the base edition and one for the Mamba Forever edition. Both were on a more standard black DVD or PC game style case, rather than the signature blue that has become the PlayStation standard over the last 10 years or so. This transparent blue was also featured on the original reveal of the new PS5 physical case cover design.


uBng819.jpg



cVqHzxL.jpg



Curiously, that tweet now appears to have been deleted, though the original images above were captured by PlayStation Universe before the tweet went away. Without official word from Sony about the change, however, our best guess is that these were mockups by 2K, done using a standard black case for a background rather than an actual PS5 case, hence the now-deleted tweet. Look at the comparison of the NBA 2K21 case with the original Spider-Man Miles Morales case reveal by Sony:


n415L0o.png



The size and shape (and angle) of the NBA 2K21 appears to be slightly different altogether, and the logo has been stretched (ever so slightly) to fit the wider case, making us think this is just an unofficial mockup and Sony is still committed to using the transparent blue cases for PS5 games. We’ve reached out to Sony for confirmation and will update when we have more information.

Blue does fit in with Sony’s PS5 aesthetic. While the console made a pretty big design change to a white and black color scheme, it still uses blue accents for the lighting, both on the console itself and the DualSense controller. The subtle blue edge of the PS5 case matches that design choice and maintains a strong familiarity of “blue” as the PlayStation brand color, while letting the actual case art look quite different from PS4 games. For games that will be sitting on store shelves, choices about brand familiarity like that are important to make to quickly communicate things to consumers. And though the box arts for both of the above games hides it, there’s a thin dark blue accent running between the white bar and box art, so Sony clearly hasn’t abandoned blue.

So we’re calling this one debunked for now. No, the PS5 case design probably didn’t get a stealth update from transparent blue to black. It just got an unapproved mockup used in a tweet before being hastily taken down for misrepresenting what PS5 retail games cases will look like.

 

the_master

Member
The real ones are worse than all the fan made from what I see.
The white + black + transparent blue colors fut poorly together and produce a mix that my brain rejects
 
Hopefully just placeholder art.

Black boxes are lame and boring, whereas you instantly know the blue cases are Playstation games from just a casual glance.
 
The black is ugly and the blue is out of place. I believe they should go into PS3 cases. PS3 are much better looking than PS4 cases.
Anyway, I don't think they will invest in a dying media. 70% of game sales are digital.
 

cormack12

Gold Member
The black is ugly and the blue is out of place. I believe they should go into PS3 cases. PS3 are much better looking than PS4 cases.
Anyway, I don't think they will invest in a dying media. 70% of game sales are digital.

Agree, transprent is clearly the winner on that colour scheme

first-ps3-game-case-shots-20061103110111559-001.jpg


Real reason is that colouring plastic costs money, easier to just keep producing the same boxes and cheaper. Why manufacture different boxes per generation.
 
Oh please yes, this is what I've wished for from the beginning. The black looks a million times better than the blue to me. Blue + white just doesn't work at all. Clean, simple, nice!
 
The black is ugly and the blue is out of place. I believe they should go into PS3 cases. PS3 are much better looking than PS4 cases.
Anyway, I don't think they will invest in a dying media. 70% of game sales are digital.

IMO ps3 cases are really ugly and cheapish looking. PS4 arent super premium either, but still much better.

I see ps3 cases on flee markets daily and they are just so cheap looking trash.

Personal preferences but blue is the most likely what we are getting
 

Birdo

Banned
I still think those case types are a massive waste of plastic.

You can get cases that hold discs that are half the thickness and shorter.
 

Warnen

Don't pass gaas, it is your Destiny!
Can’t complain, sleek and black is the way to go. Now if they could do something about the Clown shoe of a console.
 
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Matsuchezz

Member
If we could go back to the size of cd cases like in ps1 era it would be cool. Idk if that size is harder to produce. Since there are no booklets anymore. It should only hold de disc/discs.
 
When the new case and box art design template for PS5 games was first shown off, the updated black PS5 logo on the white bar across the top was criticized by some for appearing weird next to the game’s actual blue plastic case. It looks like Sony may have made a stealth change to the PS5 case design, now opting for a black plastic case to match the new black and white aesthetic of the logo and top bar. The new rumor comes courtesy of 2K, who tweeted out images of the NBA 2K21 box art featuring a black plastic case.

Two images were featured, one for the base edition and one for the Mamba Forever edition. Both were on a more standard black DVD or PC game style case, rather than the signature blue that has become the PlayStation standard over the last 10 years or so. This transparent blue was also featured on the original reveal of the new PS5 physical case cover design.


uBng819.jpg



cVqHzxL.jpg



Curiously, that tweet now appears to have been deleted, though the original images above were captured by PlayStation Universe before the tweet went away. Without official word from Sony about the change, however, our best guess is that these were mockups by 2K, done using a standard black case for a background rather than an actual PS5 case, hence the now-deleted tweet. Look at the comparison of the NBA 2K21 case with the original Spider-Man Miles Morales case reveal by Sony:


n415L0o.png



The size and shape (and angle) of the NBA 2K21 appears to be slightly different altogether, and the logo has been stretched (ever so slightly) to fit the wider case, making us think this is just an unofficial mockup and Sony is still committed to using the transparent blue cases for PS5 games. We’ve reached out to Sony for confirmation and will update when we have more information.

Blue does fit in with Sony’s PS5 aesthetic. While the console made a pretty big design change to a white and black color scheme, it still uses blue accents for the lighting, both on the console itself and the DualSense controller. The subtle blue edge of the PS5 case matches that design choice and maintains a strong familiarity of “blue” as the PlayStation brand color, while letting the actual case art look quite different from PS4 games. For games that will be sitting on store shelves, choices about brand familiarity like that are important to make to quickly communicate things to consumers. And though the box arts for both of the above games hides it, there’s a thin dark blue accent running between the white bar and box art, so Sony clearly hasn’t abandoned blue.

So we’re calling this one debunked for now. No, the PS5 case design probably didn’t get a stealth update from transparent blue to black. It just got an unapproved mockup used in a tweet before being hastily taken down for misrepresenting what PS5 retail games cases will look like.

I always associate black cases with 4K movie cases so it would make sense for them to have black cases
 

Hostile_18

Banned
I do like the black cases.

Feels like they should be black or white. Blue is tied with the PS4 and seems out of place. You want a PS5 SKU to stand out from a PS4 one.
 

xrnzaaas

Member
As long as the cases won't become pink I don't really care about the color. In fact it's good if I'm going to be able to quickly distinguish PS4 games from PS5 games.
 
I just wanted for them to go back to square cases like in PS1 days, that’s all. PS5 ones looks so cheap and disinterested.
 

Trimesh

Banned
If we could go back to the size of cd cases like in ps1 era it would be cool. Idk if that size is harder to produce. Since there are no booklets anymore. It should only hold de disc/discs.

The old CD style jewel cases are significantly more expensive to produce than the Amaray style DVD cases - the jewel cases have 3 parts that need to be separately injection molded and then assembled into a complete case - the Amaray cases are a single molded part with living hinges and a plain plastic sheet that's directly bonded onto the molding. They are also made of more flexible material which increases the allowable tolerances and hence the number of impressions you can get out of a mold before it wears too badly to be usable.
 
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