Sony has made an unexpected move by reintroducing the wallet funds reward for its PlayStation Stars users, after its sudden removal from the program back in October without any word on why. Previously, players could convert their accumulated points into store credits, and even though this feature is back, it currently allows only $5 redemptions at a time. On the bright side, players can cash in this reward more than once, as long as they have enough points to keep doing so.
The PlayStation Stars program, since its launch in 2022, has been no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year, it went offline unexpectedly, leaving users in the dark and displeased because Sony didn’t bother to clarify the situation or provide any compensation for the inconvenience caused by the downtime. In July, the program finally came back online, gracefully resuming the tallying of player purchases and doling out the corresponding points. While fans weren’t thrilled about the unexplained hiatus, they were nonetheless relieved to see the program’s return.
After a brief return to normalcy, Sony decided to pull one of its more beloved features in October, stripping users of the ability to swap their loyally earned points for PlayStation Store wallet funds. This disappearance of the reward did not sit well with fans, stirring quite a bit of frustration across the community. However, without much fanfare or explanation, the reward is back on the table. By navigating to the PlayStation Stars section of the PlayStation app, users can now spot the option to redeem a $5 wallet fund once more. It’s a limited reinstatement, though, because while different denominations were previously on offer, users now find themselves restricted to claiming $5 with each transaction. Fortunately, those with a hefty points balance can make this redemption multiple times.
It’s still unclear whether the benefit’s initial removal was a slip-up or a reactionary move in light of the uproar from the PlayStation Stars community. In any case, PlayStation seems no stranger to controversy or unpopular decisions concerning this loyalty program. For example, in August, they quietly tweaked the terms of service, implementing changes that didn’t sit well with users. Starting October 24, point expiration periods were halved to 12 months instead of 24. And come March 1, 2025, points will no longer be awarded for PlayStation Plus subscriptions.
Comparisons to Microsoft’s loyalty system have done the PlayStation Stars program few favors. Dismayed users have taken to platforms like Reddit, expressing their disappointment, with one user stating their loss of trust in the program, and another expressing the intention to cash in on rewards before they disappear again.
In light of these mixed changes, one thing is clear: Sony’s moves with PlayStation Stars continue to trigger a spectrum of reactions, and for many, the trust level remains tenuous at best.
