Consumer Rights Wiki

Sony Playstaytion hardware bans from online services

Revision as of 20:37, 3 September 2025 by Kisuke-CZE (talk | contribs) (Sony HW bans: Added some initial informations about this practise)

Sony is banning gaming consoles from accessing online services on hardware level permanently for "vioation of terms of service". This results in console hardware being unable to access software digitally purchased by customer. This also creates risk someone can buy used console which is permanently banned from accessing online services.

Background

Sony has a long history of banning gaming consoles hardware from accessing Playstation Network online services for "vioation of terms of service".[1][2] This practice is in place since PS Vita[3]. (Might be in place since PS3, but this is unconfirmed - also in these days digital purchases was not big deal)

This type of ban is permanent and Sony does not allow to be lifted[4][5] - as Sony states on their official site[2].

If it happens user has banned console (can be bought as second hand[3][6][5]), he can access his digitaly purchased content. Which is confirmed on Sony official site:

With this suspension, you will be unable to use your console to access any account, play games or game modes requiring online access, or access content purchased from the PlayStation Store. [2]

Sony is bannig gaming consoles on hardware level from accessing online services

Sony is banning gaming consoles on hardware lefel from accessing Playstation Network online services for "vioation of terms of service". Which is kinda vague and sometimes unknown why ban was obtained. This type of ban makes consoles since PS Vita and newer consoles (where all "purchases" are somewhat digital) just useless piece of junk.

It also creates problem on second hand consoles market.

Sony's response

Unknown

Lawsuit

In some states Sony already lost court cases and were forced to unban some consoles.[1][7]

Despite these lost cases Sony still uses this practice.


Consumer response

Summary and key issues of prevailing sentiment from the consumers and commentators that can be documented via articles, emails to support, reviews and forum posts.

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References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Sony suffers new defeat in the Court of SP after banning PS5 permanently (Portuguese)". tecnoblog.net. 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "Suspensions on PlayStation". Sony playstation official site. 2025-09-03.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Need Advice About A Banned Vita". Reddit. 2020.
  4. ↑ "Can You Fix a PS5 Console Ban?". expertbeacon.com. 2024.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Ps4 has been permanently banned by Sony. Previous owner had unpaid bills". Reddit. 2020.
  6. ↑ "Sony Permanently Banning PS4 Console". neogaf.com forum. Jul 18, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Sony Suffers Defeat in Brazilian Court Over Banned PS5 Consoles". playstationlifestyle.net. 2021-05-05.


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