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[IbizaPocholo]

EXCLUSIVE - PlayStation is Phasing Out The "PlayStation Network" Branding

PlayStation will be dropping the "PlayStation Network" and "PSN" branding by September 2026, Insider Gaming has learned.

insider-gaming.com

PlayStation will be dropping the "PlayStation Network" and "PSN" branding by September 2026.

In an email sent to developers and seen by Insider Gaming, PlayStation will be dropping the "PlayStation Network" and "PSN" branding. It's said that the change will be purely visual and is a means to "properly capture the breadth of our evolving digital services."

The full email reads,

"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. What's changing and timeline.

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.

Note: PS5 DevNet access is required to view TRC documentation. At that time, you'll need to align with the updated TRC and branding guidelines to ensure the removal of PSN instances from all future releases, assets, and external service interfaces."

It's currently unclear on what the new name of the network will be.

 

[Magic Carpet]

I read this as "Astro Bot will be coming to PC soon".

 

[Magic-DEI-Hire]

Just a rebrand really. Nothing to see here.

 

[Skifi28]

I read this as "Astro Bot will be coming to PC soon".

No, it clearly just confirmed Half Life 3's existence.

 

[asdasdasdbb]

PC store incoming?

 

[GrayChild]

It's currently unclear on what the new name of the network will be.

"Hermen's fun zone". You heard it here first.

 

[Saber]

Hopefully its not some cringe "pretending to be cool to gen z" type of name.
Also, praying that has nothing to do with Hermen Horizon fetish.

 

[LordCBH]

Why? There's really no reason to do this.

 

[tTHANOSs]

Lol what a silly waste of time

 

[PSFore]

PlayStation Live........kick em while they are down

 

[DeepEnigma]

So, uhh, what's the new name?

 

[bender]

So, uhh, what's the new name?

Frank

 

[MisterXDTV]

PC store incoming?

The just quit PC and you expect a PC Store?

LOL

 

[OverHeat]

Free to play online incoming?

 

[Perrott]

Frank

 

[squallbr]

End of An Era

 

[Ebrietas]

What does "Playstation Network" even signify at this point? It seems like a relic from when consoles were just becoming connected to the internet and online gaming was this new frontier. Now everything is an internet connected device by default and online is central to core functionality. The "network" name is redundant.

They will probably just stick to Playstation and the various tiers of PS+ for naming their services. Instead of PSN ID they will probably just call it your Playstation ID.

EDIT: looks like I was right

 

[omegasc]

So, uhh, what's the new name?

PSNAprilFools? This is too stupid to be true. But maybe that's why it's plausible...

 

[Nankatsu]

New name will be HN - Horizon Network.

 

[MayauMiao]

PlayStation Horizon

 

[amc]

Yeah, most likely just Playstation going forward. Sign into your Playstation account. Watch on Playstation etc etc.

 

[bitbydeath]

 

[bender]

What does "Playstation Network" even signify at this point? It seems like a relic from when consoles were just becoming connected to the internet and online gaming was this new frontier. Now everything is an internet connected device by default and online is central to core functionality. The "network" name is redundant.

They will probably just stick to Playstation and the various tiers of PS+ for naming their services. Instead of PSN ID they will probably just call it your Playstation ID.

It would be interesting if they decoupled PlayStation from the branding. I'm not saying that will happen.

 

[adamsapple]

So, uhh, what's the new name?

Microsoft PlayStation Store

 

[SlimySnake]

This is an Xbox.

 

[Topher]

Just a rebrand really. Nothing to see here.

Rebrand.....to what?

 

[Viruz]

Just checked on my console, it's there:

 

[cripterion]

A worthy news title would be they make multiplayer free.

Can you imagine the influx of players for Marathon, Sony?

 

[LectureMaster]

So, uhh, what's the new name?

Rebrand.....to what?

Coplaydate (integrated with agentic Cerny)

 

[MisterXDTV]

Rebrand.....to what?

PSpencer

In honor of the GOAT that killed Xbox

 

[TransTrender]

The jokes write themselves.

Playstation Go
Playstation Now
Playstation Max
PlayMax
MaxStation

 

[Dorfdad]

Whatever it means I hope it Means we can play PlayStation games via the cloud on our PC / MAC's / TV's / Mobile going forward. Portal is nice but we need a BIG TV version

 

[ComputerBlue]

Stupid

 

[ZehDon]

Uh huh... reads like a potential "always on" PlayStation future.

"Silly billy, there's no PlayStation network - there is just PlayStation!"

 

[Magic Carpet]

Is PlayStation down?
Doesn't have the same ring as asking if the Playstation Network is down.

 

[bender]

Rebrand.....to what?

Games for PlayStation Live

 

[DeepEnigma]

Microsoft PlayStation Store

 

[vodka-bull]

No, it clearly just confirmed Half Life 3's existence.

Duke Nukem Forever and Ever confirmed!

 

[nial]

Hopefully its not some cringe "pretending to be cool to gen z" type of name.
Also, praying that has nothing to do with Hermen Horizon fetish.

ITT: we pretend to be retarded

 

[Magic-DEI-Hire]

Rebrand.....to what?

PlayStation Online?

 

[ByWatterson]

They should call it PlayStation Live Gold, just to really twist the knife

 

[princelashawn]

Price hike incoming.

 

[Fabieter]

PC store incoming?

Why would they need a rebrand for that?

 

[Agent X]

Why? There's really no reason to do this.

I agree. PlayStation Network is a good name, and an easy way to refer to all of their Internet-connected functions as a collective group. I vote that they keep the name.

 

[nial]

it's probably going to be just 'PlayStation'. sign on your PlayStation account
that, or some general Sony Group shit

 

[Loomy]

Price hike incoming.

They have to pay for the rebrand somehow.

Also, "Playstation" is one of the strongest brand on the planet. That's not going anywhere.

 

[princelashawn]

They have to pay for the rebrand somehow.

Also, "Playstation" is one of the strongest brand on the planet. That's not going anywhere.

I agree with that!

 

[Clintizzle]

PlayStation Refund Network (PRN)
Herman's Horizon Network (HHN)
For The Player Network (FTPN)

 

[SNG32]

Whatever it means I hope it Means we can play PlayStation games via the cloud on our PC / MAC's / TV's / Mobile going forward. Portal is nice but we need a BIG TV version

Maybe this what they meant by no PlayStation ports. But you can play PlayStation games on PC through the cloud if you have a subscription. I would not be surprised if this is the approach to pc going forward.

 

[rapid32.5]

Sounds like multiple PC launchers are coming, and they'll be under the Sony name rather than the PlayStation brand.