With the ongoing divide between gamers over the preference for physical or digital media, console and PC Stores offer a variety of content. The PlayStation Store is no different in this regard and has gone through numerous changes since first being introduced during PlayStation 3 era.
Considering the friendly competition between Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo, it should come as no surprise to learn that each store features a different design, as well as some things that are done better than the rest. The PlayStation Store gets a lot of things right, particularly when it comes to purchasing games and DLCs.
8 Themed Sales
PlayStation is great for those that love a good sale. There’s usually a new one every few weeks, and they always have a theme. It could be “Big In Japan,” which features a sale filled with games from Japanese developers. Or, it could be an “Easter” sale, which offers discounts on many random but desired games.
Having a rotation of themed sales brings a more innovative way to give gamers fun discounts. Following the seasons or National holidays from around the world, PlayStation almost always has a themed sale available, and if there’s nothing of interest, there is only ever a short wait for the next big sale.
7 Many Categories
Considering PlayStation gaming has been around for almost 30 years, it’s no surprise that there’s a true bounty of games to choose from. The PlayStation Store offers a huge catalog of games and these are sorted into a plethora of categories.
These are simplified enough to find anything. Players can choose between the usual genres, like action-adventure or first-person shooter, or they can specify that they want a co-op game or something that's free-to-play. As a result, finding the right game has never been easier.
6 Great Digital Deals
Everyone likes a discount, and the PlayStation Store accommodates that. Whether a player has PlayStation Plus or looks at the many sales, there’s always a discount available on the PlayStation store. These can range from anywhere between 20% off the original price, to 95%, even with some newer releases.
The ability to pick up a fairly recent title for a discounted price is great for players who are unwilling to pay the full retail price upon release. The PlayStation Store rewards fan loyalty to its consoles with these great digital deals.
5 Subscriptions
As a fee for online gaming, PlayStation started PlayStation Plus, which was a system in which players had to pay a monthly or annual fee to game online with friends or strangers. As a bonus, players could expect to see exclusive discounts, and three monthly games to pick up for free.
Since 2022, PlayStation has evolved PlayStation Plus into a tier system that includes PlayStation NOW, which was a subscription and streaming service that allowed gamers to choose between a large library of games including classic games from previous PlayStation consoles.
4 Announcements Section
Sometimes, it can be hard to keep up-to-date with all the new releases and upcoming games. Thankfully, upon opening up the PlayStation Store, players will find the Announcement section, where they can get their first look at games through descriptions, pictures, videos, and pricing.
It’s here that players can preorder titles and then unlock them at midnight on the release date, before physical copy owners. Having these announcements on their console is great for gamers as it helps them to keep up to date with the newest releases.
3 Responsive Search Bar
Gone are the days of old when searching for a game on a gaming controller would take eons to type. Now, the PlayStation Store has an impressive search bar that will auto-fill to what it thinks the player is typing in. Usually, this works perfectly and the player will have their desired search results within seconds.
Allowing for an intelligent search engine on the store provides quick access to players looking for a game they wish to purchase or research. The store prioritizes PlayStation exclusive titles, so if one was to type in ‘De’ it’s most likely that "Demon Souls" would be the first result.
2 Because You Played
If gamers are looking for something new to play then the PlayStation Store can offer just that. Depending on the player's current game, the PlayStation store can curate and tailor a list of suggestions to suit the players’ needs. This can range from recommending ‘Souls-like’ games if the player is enjoying a Dark Souls title, or a first-person shooter if they are enjoying a title like Call of Duty.
By having this feature on the store, PlayStation further reinforces its slogan, "Play Has No Limits." Sony's algorithm will do its best to tailor recommendations to each player’s needs, through recommended titles and other assortments of games that they think the player will enjoy the most.
1 Featured Collections
PlayStation has already made it very clear to global audiences that gaming is for everyone. PlayStation allows for a plethora of games on its store, as well as its own ones which feature great representation. This is best seen with Trans and Queer representation in Sony Entertainment and Naughty Dog’s The Last of Us Part 2.
Featured collections on the PlayStation Store help to represent certain identities and shine a light on lesser-known games. This ranges from monthly picks, which PlayStation editors have chosen, or to Retro Revisited, an assortment of classic games. There are also LGBTQIA+ selections, for those looking for Pride games to look through and enjoy.