The PlayStation Store (also abbreviated as PSN Store) is a digital media store available to users of Sony's PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, PlayStation Vita and PlayStation Portable game consoles via the PlayStation Network. 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.
The PlayStation Store is updated with new content each Tuesday in North America and South America, and each Wednesday in PAL regions.
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.
PSN Master Account
A "master" PlayStation Network 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. The most recent firmware must be installed on the console in order 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.
Currency
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 â€" either in set denominations or an amount dictated by the price of the current transaction â€" 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 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. 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.
As of July 2013, the UK users of the store can top up their wallet via a mobile phone, with the user paying for the funds through their phone bill.
PlayStation Store for PS3
The PlayStation Store was launched on the PlayStation 3 on November 11, 2006 and is accessible via an icon under the PlayStation Network category of the XMB. There are four different versions of the PlayStation Store: Asia, Europe (including Oceania and the Middle East), Japan, and North America (including Latin America). Content may vary per country. There is no PlayStation Store in China.
Content
Multitasking
As of March 22, 2007, background downloading became possible while watching a video stored on the HDD, listening to music, looking at photos, using the web browser and playing PS1, or offline PS3 games. Officially 16 downloads can be queued up at a time. The status of the downloads can only be checked on the XMB under the "Network" category. If the messaging service is enabled, a pop-up message will appear in the top right corner of the screen to notify the user that a download is finished.
Connectivity with PlayStation Vita
Cross-platform content such as emulated PlayStation games, PS Vita games and demos, and minis, can be transferred from the PlayStation 3 to the PS Vita via a wired connection.
Connectivity with PlayStation Portable
Some cross-platform store content such as emulated PlayStation games and demos can be transferred from the PlayStation 3 to the PlayStation Portable's Memory Stick via a USB connection.
After the installation of firmware version 5.00 released on October 15, 2008, the PlayStation Store can be accessed directly from the PSP without the need to use a PC or PS3 as an intermediary. It is accessible under the PlayStation Network category on the PSP's XMB. However, users who do not have any method for connecting wirelessly can still use the PlayStation Store on the PC using Media Go.
Redesigns
Following feedback from a large number of PlayStation Network users, a redesigned version of the PlayStation Store was launched on April 15, 2008 via a firmware update. 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. 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.
PlayStation Store for PS Vita
The PlayStation Store was launched on the PlayStation Vita on December 17, 2011 and is accessible via an icon on the LiveArea. There are four different versions of the PlayStation Store: Asia, Europe (including Oceania and the Middle East), Japan, and North America. Content may vary per country. There are no PlayStation Stores in China and Latin America.
Content
PlayStation Store for PSP
At the PlayStation Store's initial launch, PSP owners could only access the PSP section of the store by means of a PS3 connection. This meant that only PSP owners who also had a PS3 could access PSone games and other content available exclusively on the PlayStation Network. However, the PSP-oriented PlayStation Store (PC) launched in Asia on September 20, 2007 at the Tokyo Game Show and was accessible through supported internet browsers on Windows PCs. The PC store became available for the U.S. and Europe on November 20, 2007.
A year later on October 15, 2008, System Software 5.00 was released for the PSP. For the first time PSP owners could also access the store directly on their PSP consoles. Two weeks later on October 28, 2008, the PC store was relaunched, this time being able to be accessed via PSP Media Manager 3. Like with the PS3, PSP and PSone games downloaded from the PlayStation Store can only be used on up to 2 separate PSPs activated on the account the content was purchased by.
Access to PlayStation Store from the PSP has been disabled in all countries as of 2016. However, access to the PlayStation Network, for multiplayer gaming, content downloading from the download list and content activation will remain active.
Media Go
During E3 2009, Sony announced the release of Media Go, a Windows application used to access, download and install games and software to a connected PSP, as well as Sony Walkman devices and Sony Ericsson cell phones. The software can also be used to manage and transfer other media such as music, videos and photos stored on the PSP and other compatible devices. Files are transferred to the PSP via a USB connection and saved onto a flash memory card (or internal flash storage on the PSPgo). The software was initially offered as an alternative to the already-existing PSP Media Manager (and the various other Media Manager applications for Sony devices) and can also be used to manage and transfer other media such as music, videos and photos stored on the PSP and other compatible devices. However, Sony soon completely replaced the Media Manager family of software with Media Go.
As of today, the Store is no longer available from Media Go, and it redirects to PC web store.
PlayStation Network Downloader
A DRM tool called the PlayStation Network Downloader is also required to download content from the PlayStation Store onto a PC. When downloading store content, an *.xpd file is first downloaded onto the user's computer and then opened by the PlayStation Network Downloader, which downloads the content directly to a PSP connected via a USB cable. This 'DRM' tool prevents the user from directly saving store contents onto their PC and illegally distributing the content. Currently, this software is also only compatible with certain Microsoft Windows operating systems.
Content
PlayStation Store for PS4
The 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. The PS4 version of the PS Store uses the same overall design and interface to its predecessor, the PlayStation 3's store, however, the color scheme has been altered to match that of the console's theme, changing from black to blue.
PlayStation Store for PC
In January 2013, the PlayStation Store was made available via an Internet browser. 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) via their respective devices. On October 2015, a "Wishlist" option was added.
Availability
PlayStation Store is currently only available in selected countries:
See also
- Xbox Games Store
- Wii Shop Channel
- Nintendo eShop
- List of PlayStation Store games
- List of Xbox Live Arcade games
- List of WiiWare games
References
External links
- Official website