20 years ago, Sony launched the PlayStation Network for the PS3, known as PSN — an online service for console gaming that opened the door to a variety of social features like parties. However, over the past 20 years, it has expanded to include music, cloud gaming, PC integration, the PS Plus library, and the Sony Entertainment Network.
Due to the wide variety of services under the PSN umbrella, Sony plans to finally sunset the 'PlayStation Network' branding by September 2026. That's according to Insider Gaming, which claims to have seen an internal email shared with developers.
Sony's email on PSN branding sunsetting
“We would like to inform you that Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has made a strategic decision to phase out the terms 'PlayStation Network' and 'PSN' on our platform to better capture the breadth of our evolving digital services,” the email reads. “What changes and timelines.
All features associated with PSN, including core network features such as friends, multiplayer and trophies, will remain unaffected and available to players.
“The upcoming changes are purely visual and do not introduce any technical changes to our offerings. To simplify and unify branding, the terms 'PlayStation Network' and 'PSN' will be phased out on all SIE properties by September 2026. All PSN-related features, core network features such as Friends, Multiplayer, and Unaffected Play will not be available. Changes ahead of the Technical Requirements Checklist (TRC) update in Fall 2026.”
Sony has yet to reveal what it plans to replace the PlayStation Network branding with; The email concluded with instructions to “ensure the removal of PSN instances from all future releases, assets, and external service interfaces.”
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It's likely that PSN will be folded into PS Plus, just as Xbox Live was folded into Xbox Game Pass in 2023, but considering that Sony wants the new branding to encompass “evolving digital services,” that go beyond gaming. However, as with Xbox Live, 20 years of branding will be hard to shake, even if all mentions of PSN are removed from PlayStation.
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