• Notable release dates, sales, and price-drops on games on PSN, along with the occasional price glitch making an item free or super-cheap.
  
  
• Sales on PS funding and PS+ cards/codes. Sales are rare and are usually 5-10% off or Buy 1 Get 1 10% Off. I would not expect to see $30 1-year PS+ codes ever again.
  
  
• Recommendations and opinions for games on PSN. Please say what region you are in and how much you want to spend, as different regions have different selections of games and prices.
  
  
• Checking whether or not PSN is down for everyone or just you. Known planned downtime due to maintenance will also be posted here.
  
  
• Imports. The PS Import thread was archived due to lack of activity, so go ahead and use this thread for all that. Almost all new PS import games have a download version on PSN now, though that might not be the best option for everyone.

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Yechezkel fucked around with this message at 02:16 on Feb 16, 2016

• On PS4:
  PS+ on front menu bar -> Manage Membership in the upper right corner.
  Also found under Settings -> PSN -> Account Information -> Services List
  
• On PS3:
  PSN -> Account Management -> Transaction Management -> Services List
  
• On Vita and PSTV:
  Start the PS Store app, tap "..." in the lower right corner, select Services List

• Through the webstore:
  Click on this link and log in with your PSN account. Any games that you obtained for free through PS+ will show the expiration date next to it in the media list.
  
• On PS4:
  Highlight the game, then press Option and select Game Information.
  You can also check this by going to the PS+ section of the left of front menu bar, then go to Manage Membership in the upper right corner.
  
• On PS3:
  Highlight the game, then press Triangle and select Information. The expiration date will appear near the bottom under "Expires".
  
• On Vita:
  Hold your finger on the game icon until "..." appears on its upper right spot. Tap on "...", then Information. The expiration date will appear under "Expires".

Yechezkel fucked around with this message at 06:29 on Jan 6, 2016

• Any PC or smart device through the webstore found at http://store.playstation.com. All available content can be found through the webstore. The webstore can be accessed through the PS4 browser. The webstore cannot be accessed through the PS3. Accessing the webstore through the Vita browser will boot you to the Vita PS Store app.
  
• PlayStation 4 for PS4 content, PS2 conversions, PS3 games through PS Now, and videos in the video store.
  
• PlayStation 3 for PS3 content, PS3 games through PS Now, PSP content, Vita content, PSone Classics, PS2 Classics, minis, and videos in the video store.
  
• PlayStation Vita and PlayStation TV for Vita content, PS3 games through PS Now, some PSP content, some PSone Classics, minis, and videos in the video store. The amount of compatible games, including Vita games, is lower for PlayStation TV.

• North American region: Tuesdays between 10am to 2pm Pacific
  
• European region: Wednesdays between 12pm to 2pm GMT with the occasional Friday update for UK/Ireland region

• Credit/Debit card
  
• PayPal. This option is only available in certain North American and European regions. The PayPal account and PSN account must be registered in the same country for it to be used.
  
• Mobile billing. This option is only available in certain North American and European regions. Pre-paid mobile accounts cannot be used for this.
  
• Voucher codes from PSN pre-paid cards shown above, sold in most stores that sell PlayStation games and some stores with a gift card rack.
  Most regions also have instant codes available through online retailers.

• PSN games: Games for PS4, PS3, and Vita that are only available in the PlayStation Store for download. These games vary from small puzzle games to games that were released on Bluray in other regions.
  Occasionally, some games may also be released on physical media after some time. (ex.: Plants vs. Zombies, Back to the Future: The Game)
  
  
• Demos: There are 2 types of demos:
  • Standalone demo: A small section of the game to play. This is usually a separate game file from the full game version. Sometimes these demos are pulled from the store for unknown reasons.
    
  • Trial + Key: The demo file is actually the entire game, but only a small part of the game is playable as a demo. Buying the game in the PlayStation Store just downloads a very small unlock file or “key” that unlocks the trial into a full game. (ex.: Mega Man 9, only one stage is playable as a demo, unlock file opens up the rest of the game.)
  
  
• Full Games: PS4 or PS3 games previously released on Bluray discs and made available as a download.
  
  
• PSone Classics: PSone games that can be downloaded and played. These games use the same save files as PSone disc games played on PS3. PSone save files can also be transferred from PSone memory cards with the PS3 USB memory card adapter.
  Playable on PS3 and PSP.
  Most, but not all, are playable on Vita.
  
  
• PS2 Classics: PlayStation 2 games that can be downloaded and played on PS3. PS2 Classics uses its own save files and won’t work with PS2 save files. There is a small selection of PS2 Classics available as of now.
  Playable on all PS3 systems, even those without PS2 disc playback support. PS2 Classics are not playable on PS4.
  
  
• PS2 conversions (aka PS2-on-PS4, no official name): Similar to PS2 Classics, except they have trophies and are only playable on PS4. As of now January 2016, there are no plans to offer discounts on a PS2 conversion from owning a PS2 Classic on PS3.
  Only playable on PS4.
  
  
• PSP games: PSP games that can be downloaded and played, both games released on UMD, and games only available as a download. Not all games previously released on UMD are in the PlayStation Store.
  Playable on PSP.
  Most, but not all, are playable on Vita.
  PSP games can be downloaded, but are not playable, on PS3.
  
  
• Vita games: Vita games, both games released on physical cards, and games only released as a download. All Vita games released on physical cards will also be in the PlayStation Store on the same release day.
  Playable on Vita.
  Vita games can be downloaded, but are not playable, on PS3.
  
  
• minis: Small games with small prices and file sizes under 100 MB.
  Playable on PSP.
  Most, but not all, are playable on PS3 and Vita.
  
  
• PlayStation Now games: games streamed through PlayStation's new online game streaming service. As of now, only some PS3 games are available to stream, and only a few countries can access PS Now. The service will spread to other regions in the future.
  Available on PS4, PS3, Vita with the PS Now app, and compatible HDTVs, smartphones, and tablets that support PS Now.
  
  
• Add-ons for PS4, PS3, Vita, and PSP games: Extra content for games. Some are free, most are priced. (ex.: multiplayer map packs, new missions, songs, characters)
  • Online Passes: These add-ons enable the online multiplayer section of a game and may include bonus items. A few older games use Online Passes, and those games purchased new always come with a free voucher code for the Online Pass. As of now January 2016, no newly released game has online passes anymore.
    Protip: If an Online Pass is downloaded on a PS3, every account on that PS3 can play online multiplayer of that game.
    
  • Season Passes: A bundle of add-ons sold at a cheaper price than buying each add-on individually. These are usually sold on the same day as the game's release day and released before all add-ons are made available. When you have the Season Pass and an add-on becomes available, the add-on will appear in the PS store as a free download.
  
  
• Avatars: Small icons from video game art and other themes for your PSN profile, in case none of the system avatars interest you.
  Custom avatars cannot be uploaded.
  As of November 2015, avatars now be purchased for PS4 along with PS3. However, avatars can only be accessed either through the PS4 store or PS3 store, not both.
  
  
• Themes: A pack of new icons, background and/or key tones for PS4, PS3, Vita, or PSP.
  Two types of themes:
  • Static themes, with wallpapers in the background. All Vita and PSP themes, and some PS4 and PS3 themes are static.
    Individual wallpapers are also available in the PlayStation Store for PS3, some separate from some themes.
    
  • Dynamic themes, with video or polygon characters in background. Only some PS4 and PS3 themes are dynamic.
  Some themes are free, and others are priced.
  Note: Themes for PS3 are downloaded and installed separately from other PS3 downloads.
  Homemade PS3 and PSP themes can also be found online for free.
  
  
• Videos in game store: Most videos in the game store are previews and behind-the-scene videos of games. Most videos are free, few are priced. The webstore has preview videos embedded in the game details pages.
  
  
• Videos in video store: Television shows and movies that can be downloaded and viewed on your PS device.
  There are three purchase options:
  • Buy, with no limits on number of viewings.
    
  • Rent, with these limits on playback: 1st viewing allowed within 2 weeks after rental, all other viewings possible for only 24 hours after 1st playback.
    
  • Free. Free content is usually trailers or 1st episodes of new seasons on TV.
  Notes: Vita and PSP can only purchase and view standard-definition (SD) videos.
  Videos on PS4 can only be streamed online with no download option.
  Videos on PS3 can be backed up to a FAT32 external drive with sufficient space.
  Videos on PSP can be backed up to a PC through MediaGo.
  Videos on Vita can be backed up either to a PC through Content Manager Assistant or to a PS3 with the same PSN account.
  
  
• Subscriptions: Paying to play or access a game or service for a set amount of time. (ex.: DC Universe, PlayStation Plus)
  
  
  • PlayStation Plus (PS+): VIP access to specialized discounts and online functions.
    Things you get with a PlayStation Plus membership:
    • Free games Selection of free games that changes monthly.
      Note: free games will only function as long as the PS+ membership is active. Expired membership = locked, unplayable game. Locked games can be played again with another PS+ membership.
      
    • Special discounts for PS+ members only on selected games and add-ons.
      Note: content bought with the PS+ discount will always be playable, even if the PS+ membership expired.
      
    • Free avatars, themes and add-ons
      
    • Full game trials In NA and EU, it is a 60-minute trial on some PS3 full games.
      
    • Early access to betas and some demos
      
    • Online backup of PS4, PS3, and Vita save files The limits are 3 sets of online space: 10 GB and 1000 files for PS4, and 1 GB and 1000 files for each PS3 and Vita platform.
      
    • Automatic updates for PS4, PS3 and Vita games, as well as trophy sync, download of items in the webstore's download queue, and recommended downloads. For PS4, only Automatic Update during rest mode is a PS+ feature. Automatic Update when the PS4 is on is available to everyone
      
    • PS4 online multiplayer access
    . Online multiplayer is still free to access on PS3 and Vita without a PS+ subscription.
    Any listing in the PlayStation Store that has a yellow ✚ icon on it means it either has a discount just for PS+ members, or it can be downloaded for free just for PS+ members.
    PS+ memberships can be purchased either through the PlayStation Store or pre-paid subscription cards sold alongside PSN cards.
  
  
• Apps: Most apps are video streaming services. Most are free to download, but some require a subscription outside of PSN. (ex.: NetFlix and Hulu Plus in NA, VidZone and MUBI in EU)
  
  
• Betas: Pre-release games released for testing of gameplay and testing of online servers. Betas are rarely open to everyone, but a few have been promoted and released publicly.
  Beta access can be obtained
  • as a private invitation by developers
    
  • as a bonus from buying or pre-ordering another game
    
  • from a voucher code given away from some websites
    
  • through PlayStation Plus
  
  
• Music: Soundtracks from video games. Some are free, most are priced.
  Some soundtracks are also available in iTunes.
  

• Use PSN pre-paid cards. Most stores that sell PlayStation games have them.
  
• If the options are available in your region, use PayPal or mobile billing. These won't work if those accounts are in different regions than where you PSN account was registered in.
  
• In US only:
  If you are too lazy to go to the store for PSN cards, you can buy funding codes instantly from amazon.com:
  $10 PSN code $9.99
  $20 PSN code $19.99
  $50 PSN code $49.99
  
  gamestop.com sells PSN codes as well, but they do not deliver the codes instantly:
  $20 PSN code $20.00
  $50 PSN code $50.00
  
  
• In UK only:
  game.co.uk sells "Top Up" PSN codes online:
  Link to Top Up PSN codes on game.co.uk

• The origin of country of the card must match the country that the PSN account was registered in (US account -> US credit card) If they don’t match, the card won’t be accepted.
  
• If the billing address is a military address, it won't be accepted.
  
• Try putting in the billing address with no periods or dashes.
  
• Try putting in the street name in the first address field and the address number in the second field.
  
• If the billing address is an apartment, try putting in the address without the apartment number.
  
• Here is a big list of things you could do to get the card to be accepted.
  
• If all else fails, either buy PSN codes from Amazon or Gamestop using your card, or use the PayPal or mobile billing option if they are available in your region.

• Webstore:
  Log in through the webstore, and the amount will be shown at the top next to your PSN name.
  
• PS4 and PS3 stores:
  Select Cart at the top of the screen. On the following screen, the wallet amount will be shown on the right side
  
• Vita store:
  Tap on any priced item in the store. On the following purchase confirmation screen, the wallet amount will be shown in the top right corner. Cancel the confirmation to go back to the store

• Check your transaction history. Log in here to go straight to Transaction History. Click on any transactions that you don’t recognize.
  
• Check your subscriptions.
  On your PS3, log in to PSN, then go to Account Management -> Transaction Management -> Services List.
  On your Vita, stare the PS Store app, tap "..." on the lower right corner then tap Services List.
  Select each service until you see one with “Subscription” listed next to it. Select that service and make sure the status is In Use (No Automatic Renewal). If it doesn’t, select the button “Cancel Automatic Renewal”.
  Note: All subscriptions have automatic renewal turned on by default.
  
• Check your PS3 subaccounts, if you have any. Subaccounts can spend money from the wallet of the main account. To disable purchases on subaccounts, set Monthly Spending Limit to 0 under Parental Control in Sub Account Management through the master account.
  
• If you are sharing an account, it may have been spent by the other person.
  
• If you notice extra charges on you credit card along with a purchase from PlayStation Store, they are usually temporary holds and go away on their own after 2 to 3 days.

• 
  
• Some games may get price-drops after some time.
  
• Some games may go on sale for a week or two. PS+ members may get deeper discounts in those same sales. There are sales exclusive to PS+ members as well.
  
• If you have gift cards from retailers collecting dust or leftover store credit, buy PSN cards with them. Then, buy the items you want with the funds from the PSN cards.
  
• Some games on physical media may be re-released with all of its add-ons from the PlayStation Store included. (ex.: LA Noire Complete Collection, Fallout New Vegas Ultimate Collection)
  
• Some games may have their physical Bluray/gamecard versions at lower prices at some game retailers.

• On a PS4:
  Go to Network under Settings and select Test Internet Connection.
  On a PS3:
  Go to Network Settings under Settings of the XMB and select Internet Connection Test.
  On a Vita:
  Start the Settings app, then tap Network, then Internet Connection Test.
  If NAT type is Type 3, then there is a problem with the internet connection involving a router. Usually, this can be solved either by doing one or more of these things:
  • turn on UPnP on the router, if it's available.
    
  • forward these ports on the router:
    TCP Ports: 80, 443, 465, 983, 3478, 3479, 3480, 5223, 8080 and 10070-10080
    UDP Ports: 3478, 3479, 3658, and 10070
    
  • change a DSL modem into Bridge Mode and allow the router to handle the internet connection.
    
  • change the router’s local IP address, in case it has the same local IP address as the modem.
• Pause the download for a few seconds, then resume it. Sometimes, that will get the download speed to go up and stay stable.
  
• On PS3, try turning off Media Server Connection under Network Settings.
  
• For a wireless connection, many routers around a neighborhood and some household appliances may cause interference and slow connection speeds. Either change the router’s wireless antenna channel to a channel with the least number of users or use a wired connection.
  
• For wireless connections, the wireless receiver of the PS systems are weaker than the receivers of other devices. Make sure there are as few obstacles as possible between the wireless access point and the PS3.
  
• Occasionally, something very popular is in the PlayStation Store and the servers are being hammered. This usually happens after a store update.
  
• Here is a huge FAQ based only on connection issues with PlayStation Store and PSN in case the above solutions don’t work.

• You could have activated a service, which either unlocks certain items in your game, keeps a counter of consumable items (ex.: points for building up custom player), opens up a part of the store that was previously hidden (ex.: buying an episodic game bundle made by Telltale Games reveals episodes in store for free download), or changes prices of items to something else (ex.: Rockstar Pass changes most LA Noire DLC prices to free). You can view these services on the services list found on all PS platforms.
  
• You could have only downloaded an unlock file from a trial + key game. Download the demo of the same game to get full version. You may need to download and install the unlock file again after installing the demo.

• If the code was for something that should have been available on release day (usually a Tuesday), just wait until the evening for the store update, which also occurs on Tuesday. The code should work after that.
  
• If the code says it’s for something in the future (usually a beta access code), hold on to it. The code won’t be activated until whenever the digital item is advertised as available.
  
• If the code and game came from a different region than the one registered on your PSN account, it won't work due to regional restrictions.
  
• Occasionally, publishers may mess up and give out bad codes or slips with no codes printed on them. Contact customer support of the publisher if the code doesn't work and all of the above already happened.

• The cross-buy offer could only make the other versions listed as free downloads in the store instead of automatically adding them to your download list. Double-check the other versions in the store to see if they have been changed to be free to claim.
  
• If you are on PS3 or Vita and are looking for the PS4 version, you won't see it. All PS4 downloads will not appear on a PS3 or Vita. The reverse is also true: PS3 and Vita games will not appear in the PS4 library. You can only see all versions through the download list of the webstore.
  
• Some cross-buy offers only go one-way. As of now, the only games that do this are PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale and Sly Cooper: Thieves in Time. Both only give out both versions if you purchase the PS3 version.
  
• A few games may only had a cross-buy offer for a limited time and may no longer offer it.

Yechezkel fucked around with this message at 04:51 on Feb 20, 2016

Yechezkel fucked around with this message at 21:50 on Jan 4, 2016

Mystery Opponent fucked around with this message at 13:50 on Jan 4, 2016