A recent PS5 system update quietly made a major change that we’re only noticing now, thanks to a new report. Yesterday, a known insider claimed that Sony was phasing out the PlayStation Network (PSN) branding by September 2026, and that process has already begun, based on what we’ve discovered.
Recent PS5 system update quietly started the process of retiring “PlayStation Network (PSN)” branding
The report in question comes from Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming, who obtained an email Sony sent out to developers.
“We’d like to inform you that Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) has strategically decided to phase out the terms ‘PlayStation Network’ and ‘PSN’ across our platform in order to properly capture the breadth of our evolving digital services,” the email reads.
I just turned on my console and noticed that Sony has already begun scrubbing PSN from PS5’s user interface. In the screenshot below, you can see that “PlayStation Network” has been replaced with “PlayStation.” The PSN logo was also replaced with a generic PS logo.
For reference, here’s what this screen looked like previously, courtesy of Android Police. You can see the older logo and the PlayStation Network branding.
Similarly, in the “Test Internet Connection” screen, the term “PlayStation Network sign-in” has been replaced with “Sign in to online services.”
Here’s what this screen used to look like before the update, as seen on Reddit.
But that’s not all! Sony is also scrubbing PSN from its webpages. Here’s the famous service status webpage that we all flock to when PSN goes down. It’s now simply titled, “PlayStation Status.”
I think we can safely say that Henderson’s “report” isn’t really a report. It’s already happening.
As for what Sony’s plan is for the future, according to a gaming analyst whose reputation I can’t personally vouch for, the company wants an “all-in-one” subscription that could include games, movies, TV shows, music, and possibly even anime.
Take Aguilar’s tweet with a grain of salt for now, but if true, I don’t think this revamp will get the reception that Sony’s hoping for. Unfortunately, however, the company doesn’t really have competition in the gaming space, so I think it can get away with it.
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