1120°

You Might Want to Think Twice About Changing Your PSN Online ID

After all these years, Sony broke news that starting in early 2019, PlayStation users will finally be able to change their PSN Online IDs. The confirmed beta for this feature is almost ready to begin, as details have leaked.

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theplaystationbrahs.com
AspiringProGenji2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

The only good thing here is the first change is free

everything else sounds really bad. It's pretty much the same as creating a new account and starting from 0.

Skull5212011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

Possible loss of games and stuff? Back to the drawing board Sony, people just wanted to change a few characters in their names. Figure out a new implementation because this one is wrong. People like to pretend that PSN is on par with Xbox Live but it's times like these that you see PSN really is a generation behind. Xbox Live on original XBox was one of Microsoft's finest decisions.

Cmv382011d ago

Because of name change? Because people willing chose something stupid? Psn is on par with live, and in my opinion better.

rainslacker2011d ago

You don't lose games, nor start a new account as Aspiring suggests. You may lose MP access to some games, which is a problem with the way the software in the games was written, and how they interacted with the API. This was the biggest reason Sony didn't want to enable game changes, but no one cared to really understand that when Sony said something, and intelligent people outside Sony explained it back in the PS3 days.

2011d ago
Army_of_Darkness2011d ago

I guess I'll keep my current name. Not that bad anyways... ps.. PSN is on par with live.

SpringHeeledJack2011d ago

A generation behind because of a lack of name change lol. It's xbox live that is a generation behind, no share play and gold doesn't compare to ps plus.

Livingthedream2011d ago

PSN is great and has come a long way, but IMO its NOT on par with live. With xbox, you can not only share your gold subscription with another xbox, but also share gamepass and games you purchase via download. Imo the online experience in games is generally smoother on xbox including matchmaking and lag etc. Xbox's party system is also pretty damn nice and it's also great that they support discord and Skype not only that but all the online TV streaming apps. Which Sony won't allow on their platform because of VUE. If you only play on playstation you're not missing out, but if you spend an extensive amount of time on both you can see that xbox live is ahead of psn well in my opinion.

TekoIie2011d ago

@rainslacker

That's a pretty desperate attempt at damage control.

CyberRekkr2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

Name change doesn't mean Xbox live is a generation ahead, How do the games play online vs each other plus voice chat?? Now I have played Crossplay on Ps4, Xbox & Nintendo Switch & Ps4 & Xbox are equal, But Nintendo Switch is definitely 2 to 3 gens behind. That's because the voice chat never hardly worked and the Switch isn't capable of handling Fortnite with all that many players going at it at once. Thats what you call a generation behind. Name change , Really? Have you seen how irratating it is to edit videos on Xbox vs PlayStation? I guess Xbox is a gen behind in that respect!

InTheZoneAC2011d ago

psn and ps+ forced live to actually offer more than bs pay to play because it was better...you all would still be paying $50/year just to connect to play netflix....

DogJosha2011d ago

But they are at the drawing board... This is their warning for beta testers. All of these things are POSSIBLE, not a guarantee. Every company that implements these changes should have this warning. If these problems present themselves in the beta, then they update without fixing the issues, then castrate them. Please think beyond the click bait people...

Skull5212011d ago

@CyberRekkr

I'm not calling PSN a generation behind because of a name change feature. XBox Live has been around now for three generations. PSN has been around for two generations. Three generations minus two generations equals one generation. PSN is one generation behind.

badz1492011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

@Skull521

PSN is 1 generation "YOUNGER" not "BEHIND" like you said...whatever you meant with THAT!

2011d ago
UltraNova2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

Skull
”I'm not calling PSN a generation behind because of a name change feature. XBox Live has been around now for three generations. PSN has been around for two generations. Three generations minus two generations equals one generation. PSN is one generation behind."

How did Tekolie put it? Oh yeah "That's a pretty desperate attempt at damage control."

That said Sony should get their shit together and work around this issue, there has to be a solution.

DerekTweed2011d ago

@Livingthedream

And it's £10 cheaper than PS+

bouzebbal2011d ago

do you still own your id if you change it? i mean can someone else take it?

shinoff21832011d ago

I prersonally dont care about online so sony still has the upper hand for me, because of games. Im sure sony will see backlash and fix this somehow, afterall it does say beta.

SixFragz2011d ago Show
subtenko2011d ago

I rather have actual exclusives than being able to change a name

+ Show (16) more repliesLast reply 2011d ago
letsa_go2011d ago

lol This is really stupid. This is the best they could figure out? I agree with skull, back to the drawing board! And yeah, might as well just start a new account if you lose everything anyway! Doesn't affect me because I didn't choose a stupid name, but sucks for the people who did! haha

rainslacker2011d ago

Maybe you have a better idea? What could they do to get all those games not encoded to work off something other than a username to suddenly work?

Surely, if it was possible, Sony would do it instead of making a solution with all these problems attached. They're not idiots over there.

The most likely reason they didn't want to do name changes in the first place years ago, is now the reason that people are saying that they aren't doing it right and giving them grief for it. Ironic isn't it?

Christopher2011d ago

***Maybe you have a better idea? What could they do to get all those games not encoded to work off something other than a username to suddenly work?***

Umm... it's pretty standard to support legacy systems using middle-ware solutions that match the old required metrics but tie them to the new methods.

Do people think Microsoft and Steam haven't made major profile updates similar to this and not had to think about how to work around these issues? They have, they worked around them, and the only problems we're experiencing are from Sony and Nintendo.

letsa_go2011d ago

@rainslacker I'm not an engineer, I am a consumer. It isn't my job to come up with a solution, it is my job to call them out when their solution stinks. I will call out any company when I think they are making bad decisions. Now, if they want to hire me for some reason, then I would definitely work my hardest to find a solution, but until then, I won't waste my time, especially when it doesn't affect me. I didn't pick a stupid name like a moron!

shinoff21832011d ago

It does say its possible not guranteed, also its beta for a reson

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2011d ago
sprinterboy2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

I'm definatly going to wait for feed back from the beta testers, I can see some fuck ups for sure.
I don't care for leader boards etc, but that losing saved data or trophy progression seems like a fuck up waiting to happen.
I can see the headlines now, gamers losing there trophies or something or the trophies lose rank or something.
Edit: losing games and add on etc WTF

UnHoly_One2011d ago

Wow this is embarrassing.

Why even release this feature in this state?

Surely there isn't a single person that would look at that list of side effects and go "Yeah that sounds good, I'll still change my name."

This reminds me of some of those drug commercials you see on TV that briefly mention what the drug cures and then list side effects for a minute and a half. "Your cholesterol level will be better but there is a decent chance you'll get cancer, have a stroke, or bleed to death internally."

subtenko2011d ago

yea and people still smoke too, people are dumb what else can you say

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2011d ago
Jinger2011d ago

PSN just needs a major overhaul. So I can change my name, but I potentially could be losing a ton of stuff. Yeah, not worth it.

parris2011d ago

All the things you may lose are on third party games. The issue isn't PSN it's that the other companies may not have updated their system to support name changes.

Jinger2011d ago

The issue is most definitely PSN lol I can change my Xbox Gamertag RIGHT NOW and have no issues across all 3rd party games. The issue is how they use your Profile as your main identifier instead of having a network number for each person and their screen name separate.

It's a known issue that Sony is trying to deal with, but they aren't going to be able to make it work flawlessly unless they overhaul the PSN from the ground up.

player9112011d ago

Exactly. Knowing how databases work, the name used to be the identifier but now it is not. With that said, some 3rd party games may need to be updated.

I think this may be more of a "could" happen than a will happen. It's just fine print to cover their asses. We'll see.

rainslacker2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

@Jinger

The problem is that the publishers wrote their games for a system which was outdated in design, even when it was new.

That being said, parris isn't 100% wrong. While the actual issue is a failure on Sony's part from a long time ago, the reason for these current limitations is because the developers and publishers haven't, or won't update their support for those games.

I wouldn't expect those devs to go back after who knows how long to update that stuff, but that lack of updates is why the new system that Sony made to fix other problems or bring their system up to date, is why those games won't work.

PSN has been in the process of overhauling for quite some time now. This very problem is due to the overhaul, and no reasonable workaround being available. The only way to solve it would be to keep the old system in place....at least in terms of how data is accessed on an account level for games....and then we'd be right back to where people were complaining that they should give the option of name changes.

@player

"I think this may be more of a "could" happen than a will happen"

Sony issued updates in the PS3 days which changed how data would be accessed for user accounts for devs within the API itself. It was never mandated that be used, as in some cases updates at the time would require more work, and then I don't know what happened to prevent new games from requiring it, but earlier this year, it became required to use new network API's for any game or update coming. One part of this was the cross play thing, two others were hidden unspecified features at the time. Not sure what one was, but the 2nd was for the change in how data keys are accessed through the API.

And yeah, its a may could happen perhaps thing. There are games which will run into the problem. However, the new API's have been around long enough that I think that the impact of this issue is going to be limited on actual access. I can see how it might be a problem for DLC or MT that stores data on a 3rd party server, as they're likely structured on the providers own database, and not Sony's own API's....and they would use the keys available at the time.

parris2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

@Jinger

I'm not wrong of course.

Your not going to lose your games list or your PS+ games or your PSNow subscription or anything that is directly in Sony's control. Sony is using a digital key for your account information, but they weren't always doing that so you have companies who either won't update their games or no longer exist to make updates.

You try to make the most inflammatory comments by saying PSN needs an "overhaul the PSN from the ground up" but of course that's not correct.

The original system probably should have been designed in a more future proof way, but to act like the whole of PSN as it exists today is "broken" is incorrect. I can pretty much guarantee you that if there are issues they will be to do with 3'rd party software and servers that were designed using older code.

andibandit2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

@Parris

That sounds like a really bad design. every user should be identified by a unique id,not username, more along the lines of a social-security number, that will never change, and the user will never even be aware of this id.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 2011d ago
Seraphim2011d ago

"You may lose access to content (including paid-for content) that you have acquired for your games, including content like add-ons and virtual currency." - quote from article.

Doesn't sound like you're really losing anything. All the games will remain. So the question becomes how much add on content does one really own or virtual currency. In regards to that. Would it really matter? This likely applies to older games and games that no one even plays anymore. I guess if anyone has any old add on content they haven't finished maybe they should go back and wrap that up to be safe. But really unless you're someone who plans to go back and play older games and their add on content this really isn't an issue. Sure you should have access to everything and if it was that simple then it wouldn't be mentioned that you might, just might lose access to add on content and virtual currency.

Jinger2011d ago

Any paid for content. Which could mean DLC as well. Also you forgot to mention the part where it might erase your save data. Oh and this little ditty:

"Parts of your games and applications might not function properly, both online and offline."

What is that supposed to mean? Can they at least give me a list of games that are affected that way I can make a decision whether it really matters to me?

2010d ago
searcam012011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

I don't like what they're doing. I don't want to loose some stuff or maybe all of my stuff from switching names, but at the same time why change the name that you picked for yourself in the first place? Why make a dumb gamertag if it's offensive or just something that didn't represent you? Might as well just start a whole new account and erase your past. I understand some people might of made an account when they was young and use some dumb gamertag that they don't like now. Just keep the one you got or take a chance on losing some or maybe all your stuff and change your gamertag. At least the first time is free.

AspiringProGenji2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

People age, and so do things. Back when I played COD I would see a lot of shitty tags that I wouldn’t blame any of them if they would like to change it later in life. Now Sony is finally offering the option but losing all the content And trophies is really bad. Sony may as well just tell eveyone “just create a new account. Have a good day.”

Granted my tag still rocks today

kneon2011d ago

I still see quite a lot of cringe worthy tags, I'm sure there are lot of people that would want to change the name they chose when they were an annoying 12 year old screaming at people online.

Teflon022011d ago

Lol you're not going to lose all stuff and trophies. The warning is literally worse can scenerio. Technically you should get the same warning on Xbox. But it's pointless to do, because the chances are none. ON PSN much more likely to have a issue, but trophies isn't a issue. They said progress to trophies. Like say, Resistance 2's 10 000 kills in Competitive. That would be reset if the game access your account based on user and not a internal Key etc. Now is it bad overall. But the only way to implement it at this point is to force the new way on devs, this is how that happens. The longer they take to do this, the bigger the problem can get. Now at this point. It means, say, new players who only play games starting now, don't gotta worry much etc. My only personal issue is LittleBIGPlanet. I created things like music I wanted to keep access to. If that game doesn't have proper access, then I could lose my online stuff. Though They'll probably update such a online heavy title

Jinger2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

Yeah when you make your tag when you're young and stupid and think that having 69 and 420 in your name is "Cool". You probably want to change that when you get older. Not saying that's ME, I want to change mine because my brother created the name when I walked out of the room to play a joke on me, and he didn't realize there was no way I could change it later....

Edit: It's not a bad one, just not one I actually wanted. I'm not sure why I didn't just make a new one since at the time PSN was free... ah well, I'm here now

Jinger2011d ago

@sprinterboy

Aww my sweet summer child.

trouble_bubble2011d ago

What the frak? Why all the potholes? I could see for leaderboards or uploads of created content where 3rd party servers are involved but why would you potentially lose paid DLC on your own console??? Why can’t sub accounts change names??? I guess the gf is rawdog 4 life

kneon2011d ago

I expect the problem is as I assumed from the beginning, someone screwed up in the initial design and tied content to your PSN Name, rather than some internally generated ID. Now they are switching over to this other internal ID, but for that to work all content ownership checking needs to be aware of the change.

victorMaje2011d ago

Exactly, bad design from the start but I’m sure they can find a way to re-assign Numbered IDs to players as the main ID then propagate that through the different services & 3rd party content. The name would just end up being a String that could be changed.

I suspect the conversion to such a new system would require some PSN downtime. It may be worth it instead of all the risks of the upcoming name-change system...

rainslacker2011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

There are quite a few levels of support that would have to change, and managing it all could be quite problematic. Espcially since no publisher really has much incentive to go back and update the games that are most likely going to be affected by this. The MP games are likely not played much anymore, and if they're still supported, chances are, newer updates already fixed the issue. MT and DLC managed on a 3rd party server will probably be what is affected most. Saves could be saved online for progress related purposes...to prevent cheating, and if they used older API's and never updated to the new ones, then that would be why they don't work. I don't know a lot of games that do this for saves themselves though...although online progression it isn't uncommon.

badz1492011d ago (Edited 2011d ago )

but if names are what most important, why don't they let you change e-mail address? in my case, I don't wanna change my ID because I use it everywhere and it's me but my problem is with the e-mail that I used to create it. I used my work email to make my ID but just last year, my workplace subscribe to Office 365 (like so many other organizations out there) and my legacy email no longer work. I still can log in just fine now but what if there's anything which will need you to verify using your email? or if Sony decide to send vouchers to my ID's email? I'm screwed! is there any 2nd e-mail option with PSN that I don't know about?

thatguyhayat2011d ago

Yeaaaah.... Im not changing my name for my trophies, save data, paid content and many more isn't worth it

Show all comments (170)
90°

Outriders Dev's Next Game Has Been Canceled After Publishing Agreement With Take-Two Fell Through

Outriders developer People Can Fly's next game has been canceled after its publishing agreement with Take-Two Interactive fell through.

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twistedvoxel.com
Tacoboto22h ago

"the capital group of PCF Group S.A."

If you're getting funding from a group that needs two different ways of Acronyming itself, things will not go the way you want them to.

banger8817h ago

If it was more online-only crap then good riddance.

jjb19813h ago

Outriders was crap. They slapped that game together and threw in a loot system to get players' attention. This game was absolutely jank and the always online nonsense made it stutter like crazy. People Can't Optimize.

thorstein2h ago

I liked Outriders but I could see where the artistic vision was compromised. The way the industry is now, it wouldn't surprise me that upper management would scrap something that didn't pull in money via gaas, mts, or other means.

240°

Microsoft’s Surface and Xbox hardware revenues take a big hit in Q3

Microsoft just posted the third quarter of its 2024 fiscal financial results. The software maker made $61.9 billion in revenue and a net income of $21.9 billion during Q3. Revenue is up 17 percent, and net income has increased by 20 percent.

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theverge.com
darthv7220h ago

Xbox content + services up 62% while hardware down 31%... seems about right with the way they tout you don't need the hardware to play. People can play on their phones or smart tv or other means. I don't hardly play on my consoles directly since getting devices like the logitech g-cloud and ps portal. Which is to also say I have been playing more digital than physical because of these devices.

solideagle7h ago

you should apply in MS PR team buddy, I think you will do a great job in my humble opinion :)

Sonic18814h ago

I thought darthv72 and Obscure_Observer already work for Microsoft 🤔

dveio4h ago

MS: "Xbox services and content without AB up 1%, with AB up 62%. Hardware down 31%. In total a loss of 350 mill."

darthv72: "Seems about right."

MS: "Excuse m ..."

darthv72: "I don't hardly play on my consoles directly."

MS:

Cacabunga6h ago

I can tell people like you are an absolute minority..

If service is up means their fans and fanboys accepted this model and subscribed to it. The near future you will see a big decline because the service is saturated.

shinoff21836h ago

But that's been ms for years. When things aren't going their way they try to change the way things are said. For instance console sales are down, they stop telling how many sold instead telling us how many hours spent in halo or headshots. So it makes sense console sales down just say people are playing on more devices then previous. What they won't say is how many xbox players jumped ship to ps5.

Cacabunga5h ago

Hardware sales are so bad that Sony and Nintendo are blowing the sales off the water with their hardware.

If Xbox are losers, others aren’t..
Xbox already tried everything with Xbox live then subscriptions went down so much that they had to find something else. Their fans subscribed then reached saturation rather quickly.

Hardware and exclusive games is where it’s at! Keep gamers excited, announce decent software and people will support you

itsmebryan53m ago

@shin
Well keep it simple Sony 's operating income is down 26% and Microsoft's is up 32%. No MS spin there, just facts. 😉
Cheers

purple1019h ago

Xbox hardware revenue tanks to lowest point of Xbox Series generation

Profchaos9h ago

I'm not surprised surface is struggling they aren't relevant anymore

XBManiac8h ago

Too expensive hardware when others offer the same or more for less? Good work, Green Team.

SimpleDad8h ago(Edited 8h ago)

"Despite some early successes for Xbox games on rival platforms, Xbox hardware is down by a massive 31 percent this quarter."
"Without Activision Blizzard, Microsoft’s overall gaming revenue would have actually declined this quarter."
"Xbox content and services would have only been up a single percent without Activision Blizzard..."
"It looks like next quarter is going to be a similar story for gaming at Microsoft, too."

That is crazy... so A/B/K is carrying the whole Xbox gaming.
Oh and Microsoft will be fine. Windows, Office and Cloud are growing with each pc purchase.

purple1017h ago

Activision: "we gonna need a bigger rucksack/backpack please"

Microsoft: "why's that"

Activision: "to carry yo' weak ass'

Profchaos7h ago(Edited 7h ago)

Top brass have also wanted to start seeing returns on the 100 billion they have put into various Xbox related moves so seeing more multiplatform games is highly likely especially from abk

It's basically saying that PlayStation is the reason Xbox is afloat right now thinks to Ps5 versions of COD

Kornholic6h ago

So basically PS and PC gamers' money is keeping Xbox on life support.

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90°

An Update on This Year’s BlizzCon and Blizzard’s 2024 Live Events

Blizzard writes: "After careful consideration over the last year, we at Blizzard have made the decision not to hold BlizzCon in 2024. This decision was not made lightly as BlizzCon remains a very special event for all of us, and we know many of you look forward to it. While we’re approaching this year differently and as we have explored different event formats in the past, rest assured that we are just as excited as ever to bring BlizzCon back in future years."

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blizzcon.com
PRIMORDUS18h ago

How about you not hold Blizzcon anymore period. You fucking POS company. I really hope Blizzard would just die.