Summary

  • PlayStation Stars users are upset over new changes, including shorter expiration dates for earned points and no more points for PlayStation Plus subscriptions.
  • Fans criticize Sony's move as greedy, feeling let down that no reimbursement was given for program downtime, previously viewed as a generous offering.
  • Despite new rewards and gift card options, subscribers believe Sony is making it harder to earn points, sparking frustration and disappointment among fans.

PlayStation has announced some controversial new changes to its popular Stars reward program, revealing that PlayStation Plus subscription purchases will no longer be eligible to receive points and the amount of time users have to spend on them is being shortened. PlayStation announced the terms of service update in a new email sent to Stars subscribers, but users quickly took to social media to express their dissatisfaction with the upcoming changes.

After being offline for almost an entire month, PlayStation Stars made a triumphant return in July. The reward program was rolled out worldwide in 2022, allowing users to subscribe at no cost and earn a variety of rewards by completing different activities and campaigns. While fans had enjoyed basking in free rewards for almost two years, the service unexpectedly went offline in June before returning the following month. But just as users were once again making the most of the rewards available via PlayStation Stars, Sony has announced some massively controversial changes.

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In a new email sent to PlayStation Stars subscribers, Sony has confirmed that, as of October 24, new points earned by users will expire within 12 months, as opposed to the current period of 24 months. Any points earned before the aforementioned date will still have a 24-month period to be spent. The second change will take effect on March 1, 2025, and will no longer allow users to earn points from PlayStation Plus subscription purchases.

PlayStation Stars Users React to New Changes

PlayStation Stars has been a popular rewards program since its launch almost two years ago, even being compared to Microsoft Rewards, so it's no surprise that subscribers are extremely unhappy with the upcoming changes. Over on Reddit, user ericgallostiart noted that they very rarely purchase games digitally, so earning points through their PlayStation Plus subscription was a fantastic way to still make use of the program. Others described the change as "greediness" and stated that it was already disappointing that no reimbursement was given for the downtime that occurred earlier in the year.

Alongside new PlayStation Stars rewards being added each month, the program also allows users to redeem gift cards with their accumulated points, which can then be spent within the PlayStation Store on new games or DLC. While subscribers would have to spend a lot of money in the store or complete as many campaigns as possible to earn enough points for a gift card, it's possible that Sony failed to anticipate just how many people would take advantage of the program, and are now attempting to make it more difficult to earn points. Regardless of the reason, fans certainly aren't happy.

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PS5 Slim Regular Edition
PlayStation 5 Slim Disc Edition
Display card main info widget
4K Capability
Yes, Up To 120 Hz
Power Source
AC Adapter
Brand
Sony
Processing Power
10.28 TFLOPS (GPU)
Storage
1 TB Custom SSD
CPU
AMD Zen 2, 8-core / 16 threads, 3.5GHz
Display card main info widget end

The Sony PlayStation 5's slim console upgrade offers the same functionality as the launch unit but throws in increased storage (1TB), an additional front USB-C port, and a much more compact frame, making for an ideal console purchase for users still on the fence.

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Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info
Bands
Dual Band (2.4G/5G)
Ports
2 x USB Type C (front), 2 x USB-A, 1 x Ethernet, 1 x HDMI (back)
Dimensions
14.1 x 8.5 x 3.8 inches
Weight
7.1 lbs
RAM
16GB GDDR6
Screen Resolution
3840x2160
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