Sony shall phase out its PlayStation Network and PSN branding by September 2026, according to an internal email seen by Insider Gaming.
This will supposedly be purely a visual change for the online service, rather than introducing any "technical alterations". The two names will be removed from all Sony assets by September to "simplify and unify branding". It's not known what the new name for the PlayStation Network will be.
"All features currently associated with PSN, including core network features such as friends, multiplayer, and trophies, will remain unaffected and available to players," the internal email promises.
Via Insider Gaming, here's the email in full:
We’d like to inform you that Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has strategically decided to phase out the terms “PlayStation Network” and “PSN” across our platform in order to properly capture the breadth of our evolving digital services.
The upcoming changes are purely visual and will not introduce any technical alterations to our offerings. To simplify and unify branding, the terms “PlayStation Network” and “PSN” will be phased out across all SIE assets by September 2026. All features currently associated with PSN, including core network features such as friends, multiplayer, and trophies, will remain unaffected and available to players. You’ll be notified ahead of changes coinciding with the Technical Requirements Checklist (TRC) update in the fall of 2026.
With the decision reportedly a completely visual one, there should be little to no impact on PS5, PS4 online users. In the third quarter of fiscal year 2025, PSN had 132 million monthly active users.
While the PS2 shipped with online network features, it was on PS3 that the PlayStation Network and branding was truly established. Sony has used the name ever since, though the PS Plus branding has become equally important during the PS5 and PS4 generations.
What do you think Sony should call PSN instead? Post your ideas in the comments below.
[source insider-gaming.com]
Comments 22
This might explain the out-of-nowhere PS3 update that came out this week.
I’ll wait to see what the new name and logo become, but I find this a bit unusual. Despite “PSN” being an awkward and old-fashioned moniker, there’s value in name recognition and sometimes a change only confuses people and backfires.
I wonder if this is simply to make it a wider thing so that they can keep showing growth. Basically change what is being measured.
EDIT: Though on reflection I think PSN is also a bit meaningless.
That’s good, I couldn’t say what PlayStation Network stands for nowadays. Online multiplayer? Store for digital games?
More interesting is what the new name will be. Because I don’t see an existing term which would fit better. PS Plus for online gaming, PS Store for the digital store?
I feel like PSN is a relic from the PS3 era.
PlayStation Eshop.
Drop the price too while you're at it
PlayStation 2nd Entry Fee
I’ve been thinking about this from the perspective of when we use the ‘PSN’ terminology in our headlines and tags.
I kinda realised we only really use it when we say like “PSN Down” or something. So yeah I guess it is somewhat irrelevant these days.
Still, interesting stuff.
To be fair I haven't mentioned PSN in years, but I don't rally use the online functionality beyond the Store and Trophies.
@Oram77 PSN/PS Plus is incredibly cheap. I'm not being sarcastic either. The amount of value that you get with this service (assuming that you are a regular gamer) is huge.
I just checked and under "Settings" > "Network" and in that box to the right it just says "PlayStation" instead of "PlayStation Network". Also, the View Service Status page also has no mention of "PSN" etc.
Maybe they won't give it a new name and instead it'll just be "PlayStation". I personally can't think of a good replacement anyway.
Might be Smart to stack some plus up, sounds like they're about to jack up the prices
@Oram77 most likely going to be the opposite
They will probably just call it PlayStation
@Americansamurai1 I have to agree with what @LifeGirl says that PS+ is actually really well priced, my comment fell flat it seems
@dskatter It does not.
That PS3 update was for the latest BlueRay encription keys. Nothing more.
Maybe it's a change to Sony Store, Sony Network, etc.?
@LiamCroft
"...the PS2 shipped with online network features"
I remember having to buy a network adapter for the PS2.
Also allowed the use of your own hard disk drive, which was wild at the time.
I'd like to see them use PSX( or PS eXchange). A throw back to the PS1 and still has the recognition to know that it's Playstation.
@Max_the_German It's incredibly simple. It stands for all online aspects of the PlayStation ecosystem.
Changing the name is stupid. There's nothing wrong whatsoever with PSN/PlayStation Network. The name covers all aspects of PlayStation's online services from the store to online play.
Show Comments
Leave A Comment
Hold on there, you need to login to post a comment...