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Sony Playstaytion hardware bans from online services

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Revision as of 02:53, 4 September 2025 by 188.247.5.5 (talk)
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Sony is banning gaming consoles from accessing online services on hardware level permanently for "violation of terms of service". This results in console hardware being unable to access software digitally purchased by customers. This also creates the risk of someone buying a used console which is permanently banned from accessing online services.

Background[edit | edit source]

Sony has a long history of banning gaming consoles hardware from accessing PlayStation Network online services for "violation 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 a 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, users have a banned console (which can be bought as second hand[3][6][5]), that cannot access digitally purchased content. Which is confirmed on Sony's 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 banning gaming consoles on hardware level from accessing online services[edit | edit source]

Sony is banning gaming consoles on hardware level from accessing PlayStation Network online services for "violation of terms of service". Which is kinda vague and sometimes unknown why the 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[edit | edit source]

Unknown

Lawsuit[edit | edit source]

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

Despite these lost cases, Sony still uses this practice.


Consumer response[edit | edit source]

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[edit | edit source]

  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.


Add a category with the same name as the product, service, website, software, product line or company that this article is about.

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