So Much for Loyalty: Sony Quietly Ends Its PlayStation Stars Program, Leaving Players Frustrated
Less than three years after its launch, the PlayStation Stars loyalty program is preparing to bow out. The unexpected move has sparked a mix of disappointment and questions, even as Sony promises to learn from the experience for the future.
Initially designed to reward loyal players with points, prizes, and digital collectibles, PlayStation Stars ultimately failed to carve out a meaningful place in the PlayStation ecosystem. Despite its good intentions and stated goal of building stronger community ties, Sony is bringing this digital adventure to a close, with a gradual phase-out set to continue until November 2026.
Image credit: Sony
An Ambitious Idea, Poorly Executed
Launched in 2022, PlayStation Stars was envisioned as a modern take on traditional loyalty programs, offering digital collectibles to showcase and points to redeem for content. But despite the appealing concept, the experience quickly turned frustrating for many players.
- No integration with PS4 or PS5
- Uninspiring or poorly promoted rewards
- Limited functionality, accessible only via the mobile app
The promise of a dynamic virtual collection clashed with the everyday habits of gamers. And when the platform was down for an entire month last year, the lack of response from the community spoke volumes about the fading interest.
An important update on the PlayStation Stars program: https://t.co/5lUQZY9Pxc pic.twitter.com/ghwkkMFEkZ
— PlayStation (@PlayStation) May 21, 2025
In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Grace Chen, Vice President at PlayStation, explained that the decision followed an internal review. According to her, the program helped Sony better understand its community’s expectations and prepare to “evolve with market trends.”
No official word on a potential successor yet, but the data collected will be used to shape future initiatives. Sony seems determined not to repeat the same missteps and to come back stronger.
A Gradual Shutdown: Key Dates to Remember
The program won’t shut down overnight. Sony is opting for a gradual wind-down, giving players time to wrap up their journey:
- May 21, 2025: New sign-ups end. No new members can join.
- July 23, 2025: All campaigns, rewards, and level-up opportunities conclude.
- November 2, 2026: Final deadline to redeem any remaining points.
A word of caution: cancelling your membership is permanent. Once your account is closed, there’s no going back—and no way to recover your points.
Regrets… and a Bitter Aftertaste
On social media, players are voicing their disappointment—and more notably, their frustration—at what they see as a poorly handled failure. On the r/PS5 subreddit, user Admiralvic sums it up:
“I can’t say I’m surprised. Both sides of the program were a mess… Not exactly a great way to build interest in the system”
— Admiralvic, Redditor
But it’s the anger of those who invested real money in the collectibles—launched during the industry’s flirtation with the NFT craze—that’s rising to the surface:
“Okay,now… Give me back all my money from buying all these digital collectibles instead of redeeming for dollars since you did not warn us”
— OverHyped Gamer, on Twitter
Although the program showed early promise, it ultimately suffered from poor integration and a gradual loss of community interest.
While Xbox continues to innovate with Game Pass and Switch thrives with its game-sharing features, PlayStation will need to step up its game to win back fans. The digital items earned will remain visible on virtual shelves—until the app eventually becomes incompatible with future smartphones. A bittersweet ending for a program that could have shined, had it been better executed.
