Modern life wouldn't be the same without memes. They often say what everyone is already thinking, and sometimes without a single word. With all the buzz around Sony's PlayStation 5 showcase today, memes were sure to flood the internet.
One of the most common memes to show up in the hours leading to the live-streamed event was various iterations of fan-made PS5 showcase bingo cards, featuring game titles, buzzwords, or phrases fans expected to hear during the live streamed event. Another classic jab involved simply sticking googly eyes on the newly released image of the PS5. The PS5, laid horizontally, was likened to a (European) football stadium in daniel13dark's interpretation via Reddit.
There are also pics circulating comparing the console's sweeping black and white style to characters such as Eve from WALL-E, Aku from Samurai Jack, and even even Dracula. It does rather look like the console is wearing a white jacket with the collar popped. There's plenty of material to work with right there.
The PlayStation 5 event itself also got its fair share of memes, mostly along the lines of player reactions to title announcements. One good example posted by Reddit user Inkjoii is the Vince McMahon reaction to all the new PS5 titles as they were revealed, going from impressed when Ratchet & Clank was announced all the way to being blown away by Bugsnax. Other memes showed reactions to individual titles.
The last console to have memes this good was the Xbox Series X. Even Wendy's got in on that one, depicting its burger as a 10-patty monstrosity it called "Dave's Series X." Character comparisons for the Xbox series X included Spongebob and Tom of Tom & Jerry fame, who had been squished into a brick shape in one of the classic Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer cartoons. There might be others out there, but there aren't a lot of cubic characters to draw meme-worthy material from. The PlayStation 5, on the other hand, has sleek curves that spark fans' imaginations.
The meme wars between PlayStation and Xbox are sure to continue as long as the companies are still around to push each others' buttons. PlayStation and Xbox have been friendly rivals in the gaming industry, and any time people take sides even in something as trivial as choice of gaming console, they are implicitly encouraged to poke fun at the others. A hilariously scathing meme can even come from within the ranks of the fan base itself.
Whether gaming companies like it or not, memes will flourish. Whenever any company makes an announcement, the public picks at the flaws like children with dandelions. Memes aimed at all consoles will likely exist as long as there are consoles to meme. After all, one man's critique is another man's meme, and memes are the language of the 21st century.
Sources: Reddit - YawnieYohnson, Daniel13Dark, Inkjoii