Unbelievable amount of misinformation and FUD in this thread.
Sony filed an "Intent to Use" application as a placeholder years ago. Basically, you can file this on the principal register so that no one else can use the mark, but it is conditioned on the actual intent to use the mark. You can just squat on it. They got many extensions, and it seems that they just didn't file this latest one in a timely manner.
http://tdr.uspto.gov/search.action?sn=77750563#
If you look at the extension approval from January 13th, you'll see that they got a 6 month extension, but would have to refile then. It doesn't look like they did. SO, either they just screwed up and forgot, or they are actually abandoning the mark. I would think that it's the first. Having to remember to file these things could slip by someone in their legal department. Keep an eye out; I'm sure they will make a filing soon to remedy this. If not, THEN this thing has been truly abandoned.
Edit: Also, terrible reporting from IGN. It took me 2 minutes to find the history of filings. Granted, I've taken a trademark class, but still, they should have reached out to someone at the very least. Pitiful.