If you like, you can now get a special theme for “Black Lives Matter” for the PlayStation 4 for free. Sony is providing the PS4 theme for free, but some players are not pleased at all. Read here about the controversial situation that arises and how you can get the theme.
What is the theme about? Sony recently released a free theme for the PlayStation 4. It is a theme for the Black Lives Matter movement.
The theme changes your user interface on the PS4 and consists of a black background. Icons are in contrasting yellow. At the bottom of the screen, you can see three yellow stripes with the inscription “Black Lives Matter.” A black fist rounds off the image.
How do you get the theme? You can easily get the free theme through the PS Store at this link. The theme is intended for the PS4. It is still unknown whether it will work with the upcoming PS5 or if there will be a separate version for it.
BLM is not well received everywhere
What exactly is BLM? With the theme, supporters of the BLM (Black Lives Matter) campaign (via Wikipedia) can express their solidarity with the movement. BLM is a campaign that aims to draw attention to the grievances faced by People of Color (PoC).
Especially in the USA, there have been and continue to be assaults on People of Color. Particularly during police checks and law enforcement, People of Color often end up dead. The most prominent example was the death of George Floyd, who was killed by a police officer during an arrest.
As a result, there were nationwide protests and riots. Furthermore, many companies, including those in the gaming industry, have supported the movement in various ways and generated attention. Sony’s action is part of a long list of actions.
What are the reactions to the theme? A political topic like BLM causes controversial discussions among PlayStation users. Those who support the movement had no problem with it and gladly accepted the offer for the free theme.
However, there are also users who did not like it. Some gamers are bothered that their hobby is intertwined with political issues from the real world. These players want a retreat where they can relax and have peace from the problems and troubles of the real world.
For them, things like BLM or LGBTQ have no place in gaming.
Other players are noticeably hostile towards BLM and accuse the movement of being, among other things, a terrorist or Marxist organization that means no good.
Some of these people would rather hear the phrase “All Lives Matter,” which users would wish for instead of the BLM theme.
Other users are so enraged by Sony’s action that they now want to get an Xbox Series X instead of the new PS5. Because Microsoft allegedly did not offer a BLM theme.
The situation in America currently exerts a significant influence on society and also on many developers in the USA. Anyone who wants to learn more about the dramatic circumstances can do so on the topic pages about Black Lives Matter on Zeit.de and Spiegel.de:
The theme in the PS Store is free. There is no automatic installation, so it cannot disturb individuals. However, those who wish to express solidarity now have the opportunity to do so with the free theme.
