"That's why PSN was down?!?": Fans joke as Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl show takes inspiration from a PlayStation controller

The buzz caused by Kendrick Lamar's halftime performance for Super Bowl LIX, which took place on February 9, 2025, was sparked by the remarkable stage design with symbolic elements.

The performance sported a setup of the stage like a PlayStation controller, containing the X, O, Square, and Triangle buttons. As a final wrap-up, it ended with the word "GAME OVER," which summed up the video game theme.

Netizens have reacted to the symbolism and design of the PlayStation controller stage. Many observers saw that it symbolized life as a game. Some fans believed the "GAME OVER" message was a victory lap that concluded the rap feud between Lamar and Drake.

One X (formerly Twitter) user joked in a classic internet humor stating:

"That's why PSN was down?!?"

One user went on to explain the concept like an English major student:

"For those not getting the reference, Drake wanted to “play games” which is why there is a video game control. At the end, there was lights saying GAME OVER"

Much to a user's disappointment, a comment read:

"wait but i thought it was about a squid game / corruption stance connection, it was such a profound symbolic moment. no way it wasn't that deep!"

Meanwhile, a user thinks:

"It’s not cool if we don’t notice it."

A user joked:

"Holy controller. How did I miss this."

A user went on to say:

"That is the stupidest thing I have ever heard or seen."

A user asked:

"How tf was we supposed to tell"

A user stated:

"Drake releases music for Sony 💀"

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Concept and design of Lamar’s performance

The idea of the set design was to represent the life of Kendrick Lamar as a video game, an idea that was thought of by the man himself.

Shelly Rodgers explained to Wired that Lamar wanted the video game theme to be symbolic and a way of connecting with young people to present his journey within the "American dream."

“I think the [video game theme] was symbolic, his way to reach young people. A lot of it is showing his journey, traveling through the American dream.”

Each performance space on the stage was shaped like a button on a PlayStation-style controller.

No word yet on whether pressing Triangle lets you hit high notes or if X summoned a guest appearance by J. Cole, but the symbolism was strong. 10 points.

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Other easter eggs and symbolism

Other than the theme of PlayStation, Lamar's performance was also featured with other Easter eggs and symbolic elements. Before the set, the arena had red lights, possibly referencing Drake's song Red Button.

During his performance of Humble, dancers appeared dressed in red, blue, and white. It looked as if they formed the American flag.

Lamar was also wearing a lowercase "a" pendant that some speculated was an ode to the "a minor" line in his diss track Not Like Us or his pgLang logo.

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Precedents and associations

Kendrick Lamar performed alongside Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige in the halftime show of Super Bowl LVI in 2022.

This 2025 Super Bowl halftime show marked the first solo rapper to headline the Super Bowl.

This year's Super Bowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles was a rematch of the 2023 Super Bowl.

PlayStation has been synonymous with the Super Bowl via ads. The most recent was a promotion for God of War Ragnarok during Super Bowl 57 in 2023.

In 2013, PlayStation featured a $4 million ad for God of War: Ascension.