10 Most Controversial Video Game Marketing Campaigns Of All Time
1. All Of Sony's "Sexy" Playstation Ads
Ever since they exploded onto the scene back in the 1990s, Sony's marketing department has always been defined by its edgy, adolescent themes. Attempting to do what others had done before them and compete with Nintendo by promoting a more "grown up" games console, where other companies failed, Sony succeeded in spades.
However, they haven't always gotten away with controversial marketing, and over the years their attempts to exploit the idea that "sex sells" has often fallen flat. For instance, the PS Vita ad that featured a faceless woman with four breasts next to the console and the phrase "touch both sides for added enjoyment" was instantly criticised, while this Austrian mock Playboy ad that replaced a dude's junk with a thumb has to be seen to be believed.
The worst part is that these ads worked; as controversial as they were, they at least got people talking about Sony and their products, and although it didn't help releases like the PS Vita, it at least informed people that they existed.