Take a look at Mirror's Edge's upcoming demoLet’s face it, we would love to always see a happy ending; however, we know that this is not the utopia society and things sometimes must end on a bad note. This is the case for TBWA/Chiat/Day, the advertising firm for PlayStation for 13 years.
According to reports, Sony has done away with the advertising agency, TBWA/Chiat/Day from their advertising account of USD 150 million. This is according to executives close to the situation.
Formally known as Chiat/Day in 1994 when initially hired by Sony Computer Entertainment of America, the firm played a pivotal role in the launch of the original PlayStation. From there the PlayStation brand became a household name as both the PS1 and PS2 sold well over 100 million units worldwide.
In their most recent campaign known as “Universal” featured the PlayStation resembling a mechanical octopus with the arms all representing particular aspects of the PlayStation 3 such as games, PSN, Home, and Blu-ray. TNS Media Intelligence reports that Sony spent USD 94 million on measured media in 2006 and only USD 2.9 million for the first eight months of 2007.
It seems as if Sony wants to start fresh with a new slate. No official word of where the company will actually go from here, but giving their background, it would not be smart to bet against them. Hopefully out of this move can bring about positive effects in the near and even distant future.
Source: Adage

Woo hoo....first post...
I actually really like the black blob octupus-like advertisements.....
That is a good move by Sony. They really need to simplify their message of what the PS3 does. Showcase the great games and hammer home that it is a Blu-Ray player too. I have been surprised that EOJ hasnt had more commercial play with Christmas coming up and the appeal that it would have to the Pokemon and Yugioh (sp?) players. Hopefully this will result in better hardware and software numbers for Sony.
i liked the new stuff, but i guess that this could lead to even better things. hopefully...
psn id: gingo.... the big octopus adverts are great but apart from them i cant remember a real quality playstation advert this could be a good move by sony
The advertising does need to pick up. I hate to say it, but most of the 360 commercials have been better this year.
The black octopus? Hmmm, well, maybe it was a good move, don't know, but they have to find a new good partner.
sadly i agree with you Mecha_Daddy and frankly i don't know how sony could have continued for so long with the 'this is living" adverts which where completly absured and so much f***ing bulls**t, never understood what message they wanted to pass on with that campagne; hopefully now we'll be getting some proper adds for the ps3 like the octupus-like one
I think that all of their advertising has been way too... weird. The "This is living" campaign seemed a little freaky.
OK... wasn't it said that Deutsch is now the company who got the advertising account for Sony?
is this also affecting the europe commercials or only u.s commercials cause it says Sony Computer Entertainment of America but is it also SCEE
Only $2.9 million spent into 2/3rds of 2007! I bet EA spent that on the Super Bowl alone marketing Madden!
I like the adverts with the PS3 in the room all by itself and stuff going on around it. Those are cool. But 13 years is quite a long time. Hopefully something that's "like" these new advertisements will come of this and not something stupid.
Its SCEE that need to sack their ad company. I quite like the US adverts.
yess 16 and we care why?
the universal ads are owned and made by a different company so Sony will still have those, but it is good to start fresh, hopefully the company they jusy aquired: Read kotaku.com. Helps Sony make alot of profit.
They seriously need to improve there adverts, like the others said even the 360 and wii commercials are more appealing right now. A definitive new start on promoting the PS brand is needed.
Wow, the new ads are great. Its the "This is living" ones that sucked.
I quite liked the Playstation adds seems a bit odd to drop them all of a sudden.
true the black blob is beautiful but the baby was just freaky kinda seems like TBWA is hit and miss so hopefully the new advert campaign will boost ps3 to plateau it should be on
The Universe of Entertainment ads are the best ads I've ever seen...
i really like the octopus advert =
About time, I never see PS3 ads on our Australian TV's.
As long as they continue in a good direction like they're going now, I'm sure there are plenty of talented and cheaper advertisment agencies they can hire.
if anything scee should be doing the sacking !! Our ads suck !!
I live in the UK and see Wii, & 360 adds on TV all the time, I honestly haven't seen a PS3 add outside the internet. The PS3 adds I've seen have been OK, but why aren't they on the telly?