Due to surging demand amid the global Coronavirus outbreak, internet gaming is seeing record levels of engagement. In light of this, PlayStation and Xbox have announced they’re taking steps to optimize their online services.

Microsoft's gaming boss Phil Spencer made the announcement in a recent blogpost, writing, "We understand the important role gaming is playing right now to connect people and provide joy in these isolating and stressful times, and our teams are working diligently to ensure we can be there for our players. To that end, we are actively monitoring performance and usage trends to ensure we’re optimizing the service for our customers worldwide and accommodating for new growth and demand."

Meanwhile, in a statement to Engadget, Xbox product services corporate vice president Dave McCarthy said the company is "actively monitoring usage and making temporary adjustments as needed to ensure the smoothest possible experience for our gamers."

These are unprecedented times for the gaming and tech industries. With more people working from home and relying on the internet during periods of isolation, bandwidth is being stretched. Sony CEO Jim Ryan echoed these sentiments in a statement, explaining that in the mean time "players may experience somewhat slower or delayed game downloads but will still enjoy robust gameplay."