UPDATED: Upcoming Change to PlayStation 3 and PSP Game Content on PlayStation Network

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UPDATED: Upcoming Change to PlayStation 3 and PSP Game Content on PlayStation Network

UPDATE: On November 17th (Pacific Time), the PlayStation network will undergo maintenance. Once this maintenance window has completed, the new policy will apply. If you want to purchase content under the current rules, please do so before this maintenance begins on November 17th.

We’d like to inform you of some upcoming changes to the usage policies for PlayStation Network game content. As of November 18, 2011, the number of devices that can be activated on one PlayStation Network account for game content purchased from the PlayStation Store will be updated as follows:

For game content purchased after November 18, 2011, a new policy will apply and the number of devices that can be activated will be as follows:

  • PS3: Users will be able to play the game on up to 2 activated PS3 systems.
  • PSP: Users will be able to play the game on up to 2 activated PSP systems.

Please note that this update will not affect game content purchased before November 18. The PSP rights include PSP-1000/2000/3000 series as well as the PSPgo system.

PlayStation Network users are able to change the activation setting through each device, and Sony Computer Entertainment plans to provide a new PlayStation Network account management website where users will be able to deactivate particular devices attached to their PlayStation Network account via their PC.

For more details on how to activate/deactivate the devices, please visit here or contact consumer services.

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977 Comments

  • i love how $ony ignores there consumers*

  • This account management website is a good thing. Apparently I have 3 PS3s activated for game content even though I only own 1 console. For people sticking with the defective 60gb models this site will be quite useful!

  • This is ridiculous! I have 3 ps3s In my household and I have all 3 activated alongside 1 more of my friend’s activated. I do not support this move AT ALL. I am very disappointed heavily.

  • this is my feelings on this sony went about this the wrong way if thy wanted to stop game sharing then just lock the games to the accounts so you half to play the game from the account it was boght on unless its a sub account on the system that way you cant game share cus who wants to let some one play on the account thy shuld not limet the number of consoles you have it on just the accounts that its alowed to be played on that way ppl with 3 or 4 ps3 in ther house will not be afected and with the sub account thing a parent can let ther kid play the games boght for the house on the sub accoun that would halve be the right way to do this

  • It really doesn’t make sense. Average kids in a household, probably 2? At this day and age, more often than not I’d say at least 1 parent in an average family games too. So why only 2 activations? 3 would have been more reasonable, but it should just been left alone, change it next generation.

    Damn it Sony stop taking things away from us!

  • I will also point out that this change probably came from the request of devs, worried that sales would be lost due to game sharing. Only makes sense people. You still have access to all your previous content and now we can manage what two systems are activated from the PC. No harm no foul. They could have said it could only be played on one like the “other” system.

  • I can agree with 3! But two isn’t enough! There are alot of families that have more than two PS3’s and this isn’t a way of showing appreciation to the people that have spent so much on the hardware and tv,s and other SONY electronics.

  • @BUD_TOKER_13

    “if thy wanted to stop game sharing then just lock the games to the accounts so you half to play the game from the account it was boght on unless its a sub account on the system”

    Um… thats exactly how game sharing works. Most game sharers use a “dummy” account that they buy all games on. Then that “dummy” account is put on all 5 PS3’s, which enables all other accounts on the PS3 to use/play that game so long as that “dummy” account stays on that PS3.

  • I own three ps3 systems and this does not make me very happy. You should consider allowing three systems for activation.

  • When they implement this, I hope no new games need a internet connection to be played (I’m looking at you BCR2) or lockout periods. Two is cutting it tight.

  • @+ PremiumPencil on November 4th, 2011 at 10:18 am said:
    the PS3 console would need new upgraded hardware not just a simple fireware update, therfore it will never happen.

    You ever play Portal 2 ?

  • @Karen Spearrin

    lol you should just take my comment #249 and and it in the blog post itself. I think i explained it perfectly enough for people to understand

  • i own all the games that i have on my ps3 !!!!! if i want to share with my friends then i should be able to!!!who the hell do you think you are Sony?

  • ^and add

  • PLEASE reply to this:

    Can you make the video content activated up to 2 ps3 systems? Instead of one. I hate deactivating and then activating on my two ps3s.

  • Pc deactivation sounds cool & about time ;) 3 ps3’s sounds better but not a big deal. Looks like the norm for people is 2 & 3 ps3’s. I myself have 3 also. I’ll still rate this post 4 stars, not bad. Thanks Karen for the replies because you did answer 1 of my questions ;)

  • @CEROTEFACE
    “Can you make the video content activated up to 2 ps3 systems? Instead of one. I hate deactivating and then activating on my two ps3s.”

    Good luck with that. I just got off the phone with Sony CS and they couldn’t even reactivate or refund me for a movie I had rented but was unable to watch because a.) my PS3 broke soon after and b.) I didn’t have enough money to send it in for service within the 30 day rental period. :| Completely turned me off to movie rentals.

  • this look like both bad news and good news.I would have said sharing accound of up to 3 system seen reasonable.The good part i like most is that i would be able to deactivate a system that someone scam me.How can i know which system is mine and which system belong to the other person

  • A note to Karen, who has been answering but missing many points… People with 3 and 4 PS3s should not have to deactivate one to go play on another in their house. That’s just insane.

    To give people a feature and take it away is not cool. You did this before, and now you do it again.

    And people wonder why I like Xbox.

  • I have 3 PS3’s so it kind of makes me sad.
    But if I had to choose three systems or two systems and a deactivation option online I’d choose the latter. So thank you…and curse you! :D

    As long as I can still use some of the content on all three I’m fine with this and I’m well pleased.

  • also, since this is happening could you allow Singstar downloads on two devices? It’s such a pain to have to switch systems to play Singstar.
    Video content should also be allowed on two systems because of this…and re-downloadable.

    Thanks! :)

  • make it 3 please…..i have 3 system myself

  • So i don’t have to have a seance to bring back the ghost of my ps3 to ask for it to be deactivated? Great but I”m curious why this wasn’t implemented oh say… three years ago. Only 2 system activations is kinda lame too but I’m happy about the remote deactivation.

  • Oh and one major thing. Why the hell are you making this announcement before you have the webpage up that lets us deactivate remotely? Now I have to wait around till who knows win to do any deactivations… if the site ever comes.

  • You guys complaining are ridiculous. Psn i home to new developers that are trying to make a living on providing games an you need to play it at the movies, park, prison, you private jet, get real. Sony could of never offered any of these feature in the first place an yall probably wouldnt complain an it would be a big deal. Sony has a product to protect like any busy. An there in the business off making money no giving hand outs. For the people that can afford more than 2 psn congrats but either get us to the new process of get out. An see if you have the same experience else ware. I like ps3 i love psn an i get everything i want out of it an a experience i get no were else. I support games an gaming. So my loyalty in to neither sony or gamers it to developers cause with out them the only games youll be playing will be outside an a lot of you probably never seen the sun in years. So get you head out your you no what an except it. Oh i an if its such a big deal patition developers to bring out discs for dlc bad thing is if the did we as games would buy it an guess what that game that your taking everywhere has dlc everywhere.

  • Oh! And sorry to spam, but please add sorting lists for content I’ve downloaded.
    Allow us to sort by date, game, alphabetically, dlc, dlgames, music, video, etc!!

  • I game share with my two brothers and two dear close friends. Out of the four three were going to pick up the Xbox instead. I did some real tight convincing to get them to buy the PS3 and this featured helped. Game sharing was a bridge for me to help my family branch out into different genres. I understand people abused the feature but I turned a die hard Xbox fan into a PlayStation loyalist. Its crazy how things come to be. Now they off buying there own PSN content and retail releases. I guess it wasn’t the same for others=( this stings but its still better than the competition!

  • wow really. im quite displeased. i understand you’re trying to stop sharing but 2?!?! i have more than 2 ps3s in my house and you’re telling me i cant have all the content i bought on all my ps3s.

    i guess once i spend the money in my wallet i wont be buying on there. and i use to like buying on the store to support you..

  • I have 3 PS3s. What you are saying is that if I want me and my sons to play MW3 together I have to have 2 activated through my account, buy the content and download it to them. Create a dummy account and have the 3rd activated under that account then purchase the SAME content AGAIN?
    This is an ABSOLUTE JOKE!

  • my family has two PS3 and 4 PSPs including a PSPgo and i was getting a PSP Vita when it comes out and a friend of my has a PS3 and 3 PSP that he got for his sons. so we will both have to stop buying downloadable games. also does that mean i have to create more PSN accounts so that every one in the house can play online.

  • I have a question: lets say i buy a 3rd ps3 Can i deactivate a previous ps3 and download the game on the new ps3?

    NEED AN ANSWER BEFORE NOV.18
    to CONSIDER BUYING A NEW PS3 OR NOT
    CAUSE MY TWO FAT PS3’s ARE GETTING OLD

  • I have a few Playstation 3s (pretty much one in every house I “go to”) and this will affect me.

    SONY stop taking away features!

  • 2 is not enough. How about adding some features some of us want instead of always taking them away?

  • I actually agree with the idea of deactivating my account from different ps3s. I have friends who have been logged off for months with my account activated on their ps3. I also have a broken ps3 with my account on it, so yeah. And I don’t really care for the 2 ps3s for one account thing.

  • Q? i gameshared yes i admited i got cheated most of the time and got nothing anyways i got 5 users active on my acc when this come into effect nov 18 will my master acc be deactivated? or will the ps3’s from my acc be deactivated also any new when the website is gonna be up goes i dont want any acc except mine on my acc i regret GS completely :( thanks if you reply

  • I wish it was 3, instead of 2, because i planned on getting another ps3 at some point. BUT, i am actually glad for the change, Because it will finally end the random messages i get every time i post on here.
    “WANNA GAME SHARE?!?!?!”
    No, i don’t.
    I have credit card information on my account, and it’s most certainly not something that i want to just give out to anyone that wants to “Share” downloadable games with me that i’ve never met, nor do i trust.

  • So a few people use the system in a way other than intended and instead of punishing them you remove features from paying consumers who abide by the rules.With the rampant greed among game developers which is causing me to purchase fewer disc based games I was transitioning to downloadable console games.So now you’re nothing more than a cheap unimpressive Steam clone.Thanks for saving me alot of money as I will purchase less and less digital content and am seeing fewer reason to renew my PS Plus membership.

  • hmmm, my appologizes, if its actually 2 ps3s AND 2 psp.

    But still, so many features have been removed from the ps3, its crazy.

  • Soo this is epically pimped!! . Can i just log on deactivate any playstation that has my account on it? Because i have two PS3’s that are effected by the yellow light.

  • Thanks game sharers now we can only own to devices :/

  • Wow. So, I can take a disc and stick it in any of my 4 PS3s in my house, but I can’t just download 4 copies of digital titles to be able to play them on different machines? I guess I need to stop buying playstations, apparently Sony doesn’t want me having more than 2.

    Can I just say… this is the most short sighted decision ever? Way to let your “content partners” ruin your business.

  • I have 2 PS3 and I only share my game with my little brother who has another one. How about 3 systems? I don’t care for 5 systems but 2 isn’t gonna be enough.

  • Dear Sony, I am completely appalled at your decision. I have been a loyal user since day 1. I buy my games new, have Playstation Plus, own over 50 games and have another 50+ games from the PS store. I also own 3 Playstation units as I believe in the quality on your product and bluray player. I have one in my room, one in the living room and one more in my country house. I find this insulting and money grabbing and feel like you do not care about my being a user and my trophy and game collection I supposedly owned. I have never let ANYONE download a game for free and THIS IS HOW YOU REPAY ME? After THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS?

    This hurts, this really huts.

    Listen to you fan base and get closer to your costumers. What a letdown this is!

  • 3 is the ideal number, my brother and i share PSN expenses, now we can not buy anuthing because we will get very expensive.

  • Thats it SONY im done with ur bull$*** Screw me? No sir SCREW U SONY… Im willing to pay a fee each year like xbox does and keep are 5 systems limit but I also want better servers like xbox has for online play. Free is good but not when its cheap made servers

  • So lets say you do buy the same content again how will the system know?
    Will you then own 4 device licenses for the content?
    I have 3 personal systems of each PS3 and PSP so I buy it on system 1 and activate it on system 2 so if I buy it on system 3 how will the system know I have 2 more activation’s? Will it even work?

    Seriously I know you’re salivating Sony at the thought of more revenue but you really need to detail these things.

  • I do not support this whatsoever.

    As someone who has 1300+ psn downloads and 60+ disc based games, I have my account on 5 PS3’s. I have 2 in my house, one in my office (stay in school kids), one at my sister’s and also on a friend’s that I’ve known since childhood. All of which I play on at minimum a bi-weekly basis.

    It is for MY convenience that MY account with MY purchased games is on all these systems. I do not at all appreciate being told when/where/how i can enjoy my content.

    This concerns me especially because the OnLive service allows you to access ALL of your purchased games from ANY computer in the world just by downloading their client. I would think that would be something of a competition concern, yet this seems a step in the opposite direction.

    But that’s not what this is all about. This is about money and feeling like you don’t have enough of it because of things like game sharing.

    Why not just require a credit card validation to activate additional systems? That would cut out the game sharers and allow customers like me (who give you lots and lots of money) the convenience we deserve.

    This will VASTLY impact my decisions on how much to spend on PS gaming from now on.

  • @mixedkidbx Wake up dude. Who cares about purchases prior to Nov. 18th. What about new purchases? You’re still going to make them knowing that you’re now getting screwed? What about those “free” online passes? Now DISC BASED games with ONLINE PASSES are screwed by this new “policy”.

    There is ZERO good that comes out of this for consumers. Some of you posters have your heads up SCEA’s you know what. Look at me, PRO Rewards member, PSN+ subscriber, I own thousands of dollars in physical hardware and many thousands in digital content & disc based games. I’M LIVID by this announcement.

    Sony just gave us all the finger.

  • How about plus members get 3 slots instead of 2? (I only have 1 system, but ive seen a lot of people with 3) at least is an option…

  • Two is really low I dont know about you guys but now I am going get my games and movies and shows on blu-ray or on vita with there memory. two is way to low

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