Gamers go wild as Kendrick Lamar performs on a PlayStation controller for Super Bowl Halftime Show

Gaming fans have reacted to the PlayStation-inspired stage design of Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl Halftime Show.

• READ MORE: Ranking the 10 best Super Bowl halftime shows in history

His ferocious 13-minute set featured appearances from SZA, Samuel L. Jackson and Serena Williams while Lamar also made several digs at Drake after the pair’s high-profile rivalry. At one point, he said he wanted to play their “favourite song but you know they like to sue”, referencing Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group over Lamar’s diss track ‘Not Like Us’.

Lamar ended his set with the chart-topping mega-hit ‘Not Like Us’ before he was joined by DJ Mustard for ‘TV Off’. During the song, the stage featured the four buttons commonly found on a PlayStation controller while a message reading “game over” was displayed at the very end of the gig.

Kendrick Lamar's Full Super Bowl Halftime Show performance #SuperBowl pic.twitter.com/OxZED0YXDn

— popculture (@notgwendalupe) February 10, 2025

“I don’t see enough people talking about the fact that Kendrick’s stage was a literal PlayStation controller? Game over,” wrote one fan on X. “PlayStation buttons as the 4 main stages. Uncle Sam narrating the game. Kendrick beating the game and turning it off as soon as he mastered it. Absolute cinema,” added another.

“Dude, Kendrick is a genius. The entire show was actually a massive metaphor of how the United States is a video game trying to control us. That’s why the stage was PlayStation controller. I can write a whole research paper on why this was the biggest political statement ever,” said one X user.

Watched the BTS of how much effort it took to create this halftime show and confirmed that the symbols were a reflection of PlayStation and a nod to Kendrick Lamar’s growing up with the brand. PlayStation fans instantly recognized this and it was even more amazing. Loved it pic.twitter.com/SMZcA6aQ9e

— mcquack306 (@mcquack306) February 10, 2025

Anyone that puts a video game Easter egg in their #Superbowl halftime show is a legend

Kendrick hit ‘em with the PlayStation controller vibes pic.twitter.com/lhSr8WTmFX

— ᴀʀᴅᴀ Öᴄᴀʟ (@Arda) February 10, 2025

I really thought Kendrick was about to announce a new Playstation game here for a minute #SuperBowl #Supe pic.twitter.com/WVpsUeJN4z

— 《『JordyD127』》 (@JordyD127) February 10, 2025

did anyone else pick up that Kendrick’s set mimicked a PlayStation controller?

it only clicked for me at the end when the cameras zoomed out and GAME OVER lit up in the stands pic.twitter.com/lK5NAPIWEL

— MILA VOXX CINCY (@MilaVoxx) February 10, 2025

Last thing, Besides the Drake shit this performance was about and for the black culture in America. Peep the shit “Uncle Sam” was saying, the PlayStation controller layout, the direction of the song choices. Kendrick said nah imma do my own thing, fuck what America want pic.twitter.com/obhA0USAR6

— ꜱʜᴀɴɪᴀʜDreamCon2025 (@bbygurl_niah) February 10, 2025

samuel l. jackson as uncle sam saying “this is the great american game” and each corner of the field was a symbol from a playstation controller…kendrick lamar the man that you are https://t.co/QQRVhxAKmq

— kaitlyn (@k8lynwebber) February 10, 2025

Others are speculating that the button flashes at the very start of the performance are some sort of teaser for new music.

In 2023, gaming fans took to social media to compare Rhianna’s Super Bowl Halftime Show stage to a level from Super Smash Bros. 

In other news, a new Batman: Arkham game could be in the works but gamers will have to wait years to get their hands on it.

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