In a move that caught many off guard, PlayStation is shutting down a free feature it launched less than three years ago. The PlayStation Stars loyalty program will soon disappear. Sony has officially confirmed its closure and says it’s seeking new ways to engage with its player community.

Sony has unexpectedly announced the termination of PlayStation Stars, a service that many users may not have even known existed. Introduced in July 2022, the program was designed to build closer relationships between PlayStation players and the company by offering rewards for in-game activity. Participants could earn digital collectibles or points that could be exchanged for PlayStation Network wallet funds. However, Sony now feels the time has come to retire the system entirely.

Shutdown Timeline and What Players Should Know

According to a statement on the PlayStation Blog, no new users will be allowed to join the PlayStation Stars program. Existing members can continue earning points, collectibles, and ranking up until July 23, 2025. After that date, all campaigns and reward additions will cease. Any points collected will remain valid until November 2, 2026, when the program will be permanently discontinued.

In Sony’s own words: “Since the program’s launch, we’ve learned a lot from evaluating the types of activities our players respond to best, and as a company, we’re always evolving with player and industry trends.” They continue: “Through this evaluation, we’ve decided to refocus our efforts and will be disabling the current version of PlayStation Stars. We will continue to evaluate our key findings from this program and are exploring ways to build on these lessons.”

This decision is tied to a shift in Sony’s broader strategy. Recognizing how quickly the gaming industry is evolving, the company has adjusted its focus away from hardware sales like the PS5 and toward maintaining monthly active users. Long-term engagement, not just one-time purchases, is now seen as the true engine of profitability.

Source: 3djuegos