“What the hell?” PlayStation’s latest feature aims to “reward” players, but the reaction has been far from positive. After shutting down PlayStation Stars, Sony has rolled out Franchise Rewards, and the community’s response has been mixed. For many, paying for items linked to trophies feels like exploitation, not appreciation.

Sony has announced its replacement for PlayStation Stars. The old loyalty program, which let players earn points and digital collectibles for free, is fading away, and the Japanese giant has introduced a similar option: Franchise Rewards. This system launches today “with commemorative merchandise celebrating your gaming achievements,” starting with Ghost of Tsushima. However, not every PS4 and PS5 player is excited by the concept.

According to the official PlayStation blog, Franchise Rewards is a program offering exclusive items to players who achieve significant milestones. It starts with Ghost Rewards: those who earn Gold and Platinum trophies in Ghost of Tsushima can purchase limited merchandise. These products “were designed to honor the spirit of Jin Sakai’s journey and the dedication of the fans who followed the same path”—but all of it comes at a cost.

Players who secure the Gold trophy can buy a commemorative T-shirt for €33. Those who achieve Platinum can get a pin for €28. Both are limited-time items: trophies must be earned by December 31, 2025, and items purchased by January 31, 2026, on the Ghost Rewards site.

Franchise Rewards doesn’t stop there. Sony notes it will soon expand to Ghost of Yotei, “giving players another chance to celebrate their achievements with unique merchandise.” Since the program is tied to Sony’s biggest franchises, we can expect similar offerings for other titles.

Franchise Rewards Draws Early Criticism

Not everyone is impressed with how Franchise Rewards works. On social media, some argue that Gold and Platinum trophies should come with free rewards, not just the chance to buy something. “Man, this stuff should be free for players who have done it. Not just unlocked by the ability to buy it. What the hell?” wrote DravenDergen on PlayStation’s X post.

“It doesn’t feel like a reward when it’s still expensive junk with a time limit,” added FailureToCrash. “They’re exploiting people’s FOMO [Fear of Missing Out] to get them to buy merch, instead of offering real rewards. That feels like a sellout,” said GeorgeStoumpos.

Some fans, however, are happy to buy new collectibles from their favorite series. But the rollout of Franchise Rewards hasn’t been a huge celebration among PS4 and PS5 communities. In fact, some miss the old system entirely: “This replaced PlayStation Stars?” asked slycorddd.

Source: 3djuegos