The PlayStation Store (PS Store) is an online service that lets users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 game consoles buy and download games and other content through the PlayStation Network.
The store provides many items that can be purchased or downloaded for free. These include complete games, extra content for games, short versions of games to try (called playable demos), decorative themes, and previews of games and movies (called trailers).
History
On April 15, 2008, a redesigned version of the PlayStation Store was launched through a firmware update. This new design used an operating system, not the previous web-based design, which allowed the Store to process information faster.
A minor update to the Store was released during Sony's E3 2009 press conference. This update changed the main page to automatically rotate pictures (including their links) and updated the navigation sounds.
In September 2009, Sony began selling major games on the Store. These titles were later called "PSN Day 1 Digital."
A major redesign of the PlayStation Store was announced in September 2012. This redesign included a new navigation structure and search system. The new Store combined game and video content to help users find items more easily. Content was now included in each game's listing instead of being in separate categories for items like add-ons, themes, and downloadable content. The design used more artwork and animations, and less text. The redesign launched in Europe on October 22, 2012. However, after launching in the United Kingdom, the Store interface was changed back to the old design due to long load times and slow navigation. Other European countries kept the new design. The redesign was launched in North America on November 2, 2012.
In May 2020, the PlayStation Store was suspended in China for security reasons. On March 2, 2021, Sony announced that it would stop selling movies and TV shows through the Store on August 31, 2021.
Later that month, Sony also announced it would close the storefronts for PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita games in July and August 2021. This decision caused criticism, as concerns were raised about game preservation, digital-only media, and possible negative effects on consumers. Some small developers were not warned in advance about the Store closures, forcing them to work quickly to meet deadlines. Others canceled their games because they could not finish on time. After receiving feedback, Sony reversed its decision to close the PS3 and Vita stores, keeping them open for the foreseeable future. However, the PlayStation Portable store still closed as planned on July 2, 2021. On the day before the planned closure, Sony changed its plans again, choosing to disable the PlayStation Store app on the system instead of removing PSP digital games.
On March 9, 2022, PlayStation announced that it suspended operations of the PlayStation Store in Russia in response to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Availability
The PlayStation Store is available in 69 countries and territories:
9 countries in East and Southeast Asia:
18 countries in the Americas:
2 countries in Oceania:
1 country in Africa:
10 countries in West and South Asia:
29 countries in Europe:
Note: In some countries, the PlayStation Store is available, but prices are shown in USD or EUR instead of the local currency.
Access and versions
The PlayStation Store can be accessed through an icon on the XrossMediaBar on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, via the Dynamic Menu on the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, and through an icon on the LiveArea on the PlayStation Vita. The service is also available online through the Sony Entertainment Network website and the PlayStation app for iOS and Android devices.
A master account is required to use the PlayStation Store. A record of all previously purchased items, called the "Download List," tracks every PlayStation Store account's download history. A guest user can use their master account's Download List to download free content or make purchases on another console. However, a single account can only be used on up to two consoles. This limit was previously five, but Sony changed it to two in November 2011. The most recent firmware must be installed on the console to access the PlayStation Store. Each master account is linked to an online virtual "wallet" where funds can be added. This wallet is used to pay for purchases from the store. Money can be added through various payment systems, though some options are not available in all countries.
All purchases on the PlayStation Store are made in the user's local currency using a "wallet" system. Funds are added to the wallet in set amounts or based on the price of the item being purchased. When a purchase is made, the wallet is charged. Money added to the PlayStation Store wallet cannot be refunded.
Users can add funds to their wallet in several ways, with credit or debit cards being the most common method. In many regions, users can also buy PlayStation Network Cards or Tickets from retailers like supermarkets or video game stores. These cards have a 12-digit code that users enter on the PlayStation Store to add funds. Nintendo later used a similar system for their eShop. However, the PlayStation Store account is region-locked and typically only accepts credit cards or PlayStation Network Cards purchased from the same country chosen during registration. This country selection cannot be changed after registration.
The PlayStation Store was launched on the PlayStation 3 on November 11, 2006. There are four versions of the store on this platform: Asia, Europe (including Oceania and the Middle East), Japan, and North America (including South America).
The PlayStation Store became available on the PlayStation Portable with the 5.00 firmware update in October 2008. The native PlayStation Store on the PSP closed on March 31, 2016, though in-app purchases remained available after the closure. Full PlayStation Store functionality on the PSP ended on July 2, 2021, except for the ability to download previously purchased content.
The PlayStation Store was launched on the PlayStation Vita on December 17, 2011, and is accessed through an icon on the LiveArea. As of December 2016, all Vita games became available for digital download on the PlayStation Network, though some games are not released physically. There are four versions of the PlayStation Store: Asia, Europe (including Oceania and the Middle East), Japan, and North America. The PlayStation Store is not localized for China and South America on the Vita.
The PlayStation 4's PlayStation Store was released on November 15, 2013, in North America along with the console, and on November 29, 2013, in most of Europe. The PS4 version of the store has the same overall design as the PlayStation 3's store but uses a different color scheme to match the console's theme, changing from black to blue.
In January 2013, the PlayStation Store became available through web browsers. Users can purchase content for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable online and then download it to their devices. A "Wishlist" feature was added in October 2015. In October 2020, Sony announced that users would no longer be able to browse, purchase, or download PS3, PSP, and PS Vita content or PS4 avatars, themes, and applications through the desktop and mobile versions of the PlayStation Store.
The PlayStation 5's PlayStation Store was released on November 12, 2020, in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea along with the console. It became available in the rest of the world (excluding China) on November 19, 2020, seven days after the North American and Japanese launches.
Legal issues
Before 2019, Sony allowed outside companies, such as Amazon and Walmart, to sell video game redemption codes for PlayStation Store. Sony stopped this in April 2019, so outside companies can now only sell virtual currency for PlayStation Store. In May 2021, a class-action lawsuit was filed in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California, saying that Sony's control over PlayStation Store made the removal of third-party sales a violation of antitrust laws. Another class-action lawsuit was filed the same month, claiming that Sony's decision to stop third-party sales caused customers to be charged much more money, totaling billions of dollars.