AI in Gaming: PlayStation & AMD's Ambitious Partnership, Nintendo Switch Milestones, and Sony's Kadokawa Strategy

In this week's Gaming Fun Fact we explore the world of adding CD players onto classic game consoles, specifically the N64DD for the Nintendo 64 and the Sega CD for the Sega Genesis. Both offerings attempted to expand the functionality of their cartridge-based counterparts with the increased storage and capabilities of CDs and magnetic discs. PlayStation and AMD are partnering to create more AI-powered technology to make games look and play better. This technology is not planned to be limited to just PlayStation either, with the partnership allowing other companies to use the technology as they see fit. The Nintendo Switch has surpassed the PS2 in sales as of November 2024, as it becomes the second best-selling gaming hardware in history. This comes in "just" 7 million units shy of the Nintendo DS sales... a gap that the Switch is unlikely to close any time soon. Sony has invested 50 billion yen (~$318 million) into Kadokawa, the parent company of FromSoftware. At this time there is no word of a full takeover, however, an investment this large of course raises the question if Dark Souls and Elden Ring will ever become PlayStation exclusive titles.