[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong] Sony chose “color,” not “performance,” for its first PlayStation-related announcement of 2026. Sony unveiled the Hyperpop Collection, a new line of exterior accessories that lets users customise the look of the PS5. With competition intensifying on console performance, the move stands out as a strategy that puts design and room styling first.

On Jan. 7 (local time), the Verge reported that the Hyperpop Collection consists of neon-colored console covers and a DualSense wireless controller. With RGB lighting becoming a trend in gaming setups, it is interpreted as an attempt to expand the PS5 from a simple game console into an object that shapes a space.

The collection will be released in three colors: Techno Red, Remix Green and Rhythm Blue. It marks a clear departure from PlayStation’s restrained black-and-white design. Sony designed it to maximise visual presence in game rooms filled with RGB lighting, using what it calls the boldest color combinations among PS5 console covers it has released so far.

Sony stressed that it designed the Hyperpop Collection with RGB lighting in mind from the start. Leo Cardoso of Sony’s Color, Material & Finish design team said, “We were inspired by the RGB lighting of impressive gaming setups.” He added, “These new colors were designed to shine in the most intense way possible, as if they take over the space.”

There is a drawback. The console covers are made only for the base PS5 model and are not compatible with the PS5 Pro. As a result, users who bought the latest higher-end model will not be able to enjoy the neon color customisation.

The Hyperpop Collection will be officially released on March 12, and preorders will begin at 10 a.m. on Jan. 16 through the official Sony PlayStation Direct website and select retailers. The PS5 console covers are priced at $74.99, and the DualSense wireless controller at $84.99. The console covers will be sold in limited quantities.

The collection is also seen as an attempt by Sony to broaden the PlayStation brand through taste, individuality and room styling in a console market where performance competition continues. Some analysis also says it is a strategy to redefine the PS5 as a “displayed” game console as RGB-centered gaming environments become widespread.