PlayStation Store

The PlayStation Store (PS Store) is a digital media store available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, PlayStation Vita game consoles via the PlayStation Network. The PlayStation Portable was previously supported from 2008 to 2016.

PlayStation Store
DeveloperSony Interactive Entertainment
TypeOnline market
Launch dateNovember 11, 2006 (2006-11-11)[1]
Platform(s)
Websitestore.playstation.com

The store offers a range of downloadable content both for purchase and available free of charge. Available content includes full games, add-on content, playable demos, themes and game/movie trailers.

Access

The store is accessible through an icon on the XrossMediaBar on the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable, via the Dynamic Menu on the PlayStation 4, and an icon on the LiveArea on the PlayStation Vita. The service is also available online through the Sony Entertainment Network website.

A master account is required to access the PlayStation Store. A log of all previously purchased items, known as "Download List", records each PlayStation Store account's complete download activity. A guest user can use their master account's Download List to download free content or to purchase content on another console; however, a single account can only be used on up to two consoles. This was previously five, but as of November 2011, Sony reduced this to two.[2] The most recent firmware must be installed on the console to access the PlayStation Store. Each master account is associated with an online virtual "wallet" to which funds can be added. This wallet is then debited when a purchase is made from the store. Money can be added to the wallet through different systems of payment, although some of these are not available in all countries.

All purchases on the PlayStation Store are made in the user's local currency using a 'wallet' system whereby funds are added to the wallet—either in set denominations or an amount dictated by the price of the current transaction—then debited from the account's wallet when the user makes a purchase, funds added to the PS Store are non-refundable.

The user can add funds to their wallet in a number of ways, the most common of which is by credit or debit card. Users in many regions can also purchase PlayStation Network Cards[3] or Tickets in set denominations from retailers including supermarkets or video game stores. These funds are redeemed on the PlayStation Store when the user enters the unique 12-digit code found on the card into the PlayStation Store.[4] Nintendo themselves later adopted this currency system for their succeeding eShop. The Store's account, however, is region-locked and generally only accepts credit card that is billed in and PlayStation Network Cards purchased from the same country selected during the registration process, which cannot be changed afterwards.

History

Following feedback from many PlayStation Network users, a redesigned version of the PlayStation Store was launched on April 15, 2008 via a firmware update.[5] The new design was OS based rather than the previous Store's web based design enabling the Store to process information more quickly.

A minor update to the store was released during Sony's E3 2009 press conference. This update makes the top page rotate pictures (including their links) regularly, and changes the navigation sounds.

A major redesign of the PlayStation Store was announced in September 2012, bringing with it a revised navigation structure and new search system. The new store has been developed to bring game and video content together and make it easier for users to find what they are looking for. Content will be integrated into each game's listing, rather than separate categories for items like add-ons, themes, and other downloadable content. The latest design is much less focused on text, and incorporates high-resolution artwork and smooth animations for featured content. The new redesign launched in Europe on October 22, 2012.[6] Shortly after it was launched in the United Kingdom, the Store interface was reverted to the old design due to issues such as long load times and slow navigation, while other countries in Europe retained the new interface despite these issues. The redesign was released in North America on November 2, 2012.

On May 11, 2020, the PlayStation Store has been indefinitely suspended in China due to security reasons.[7]

Versions

PlayStation 3

PlayStation Store was launched within the PlayStation 3 on November 11, 2006.[1] There are four different versions of the store on the platform: Asia, Europe (including Oceania and the Middle East), Japan and North America (including South America).

PlayStation Portable

PlayStation Store was supported on PlayStation Portable starting by October 2008 with 5.00 firmware update.[8] The native PlayStation Store front on PSP was closed on March 31, 2016 as Sony announced on March 1 the same year.[9]

PlayStation Vita

PlayStation Store was launched on the PlayStation Vita on December 17, 2011 and is accessible via an icon on the LiveArea.[10] As of December 2016, all Vita games were also made available to be downloaded digitally on the PlayStation Network via the storefront,[11] although not all games are released physically.[12] There are four different versions of the PlayStation Store: Asia, Europe (including Oceania and the Middle East), Japan and North America. There is no Vita's PlayStation Store localization in China and South America.

PlayStation 4

PlayStation 4 version of the PlayStation Store was released on November 15, 2013 along with the console in North America, and on November 29 in most of Europe with the console two weeks following the North American launch.[13] The PS4 version of the PS Store uses the same overall design and interface to its predecessor, the PlayStation 3's storefront; however, the color scheme has been altered to match that of the console's theme, changing from black to blue.

Internet browser
See also: Sony Entertainment Network

In January 2013, the PlayStation Store was made available via Internet browser.[14] Users can purchase content for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable via the online store, then download it (or put it in a download queue)[15] via their respective devices. In October 2015, a "Wishlist" option was added.[16] On October 15, 2020, in anticipation of the launch of the PlayStation 5, Sony announced that users would no longer be able to browse and purchase PS3, PSP and PS Vita games and applications via the desktop and mobile versions of the PlayStation Store.[17]

PlayStation 5

PlayStation 5 version of PlayStation Store was released on November 12, 2020 along with the console in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea, and on November 19, 2020 in rest of the world (excluding China) with the console seven days following the North American and Japan launch.

See also

References
  1. "PS3 sells out at launch". BBC. November 11, 2006. Archived from the original on December 17, 2007. Retrieved January 14, 2008.
  2. Yin-Poole, Wesley (November 18, 2011). "Reduced PlayStation game sharing policy comes into effect". Eurogamer.net. Gamer Network. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  3. "PlayStation Network Cards". PlayStation. Sony Computer Entertainment. November 1, 2012. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved November 1, 2012.
  4. Plunkett, Luke (June 7, 2008). "PS Store Cards *Finally* Heading To Retai l". kotaku.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2009. Retrieved September 20, 2012.
  5. Chen, Grace (April 14, 2008). "PlayStation.Blog » PlayStation Store Update". PlayStation Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment. Archived from the original on December 8, 2017. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
  6. Karmali, Luke (October 11, 2012). "Sony Unveils Redesigned PlayStation Store". ign.com. Ziff Davis, LLC. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  7. Gera, Emily. "PlayStation Store has been suspended indefinitely in mainland China". VG247. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  8. Chen, Grace (October 14, 2008). "Firmware 5.0 Demo: PlayStation Store on PSP". PlayStation Blog. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC. Archived from the original on April 6, 2018. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  9. "PSP Store closing down, content will still be available elsewhere". VG247. March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 2, 2020.
  10. Colin Moriarty (September 14, 2011). "TGS: Sony Reveals Vita's Release Date". IGN.
  11. Schreier, Jason. "Vita Games Will All Be Downloadable, Sony Confirms". Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  12. Williams, Mike. "PlayStation Vita Could Shift Towards Digital-Only". Retrieved December 30, 2016.
  13. O'Brien, Terrence (August 20, 2013). "PlayStation 4 hitting shelves on November 15th in the US for $399, November 29th in Europe". Engadget. AOL. Archived from the original on August 20, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
  14. Chen, Grace (June 24, 2013). "Introducing the New Sony Entertainment Network Online Store". PlayStation.Blog. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved August 23, 2013.
  15. Yoon, Andrew (April 25, 2013). "PlayStation Store now supports download queue via web browser". Shack News. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  16. Hussain, Tamoor (October 23, 2015). "PlayStation Store Has a New Wishlist Feature". GameSpot. CBS Interactive Inc. Retrieved February 18, 2019.
  17. https://www.gamesradar.com/uk/playstation-store-is-reportedly-getting-a-major-overhaul-on-web-and-mobile/
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