PlayStation Stars: How to get free PS4, PS5 games via Sony rewards

PlayStation Stars, a rewards program Sony tragically failed to market by licensing the theme song of a certain animated film about an ogre’s swamp, rolls out today in the United States.

First announced in July, PlayStation Stars primarily grants players “digital collectibles,” which caused some observers to raise eyebrows at a slew of prizes that sure sounded a whole lot like NFTs. (Sony swears they’re “not NFTs.”) But long-tail participation in the program can also grant you points for redemption in the PlayStation Store. Here’s everything you need to know.

“PlayStation Stars”? You like fighting games?

No, you’re thinking of PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale, a 2012 platform fighter that attempted to fold in Sony’s roster of first-party heroes for a PlayStation-exclusive Smash Bros. clone. The game, according to most accounts failed. Terribly.

Despite centering around a dopamine-fueled progression system, PlayStation Stars isn’t a game at all. It’s a free addition to an existing PlayStation account. You’re allotted a set number of tasks, formally called CampaignsYou can cycle these on a regular basis. Completing campaigns gives you free stuff — like, yes, “digital collectibles” (to reiterate, “not NFTs”). You can unlock more campaigns the more you do, which will increase your overall effectiveness. PlayStation Stars status level.

It was first launched in Asia on September 28th, then expanded to North and South America and New Zealand respectively on October 5.

What is the best way to sign up for PlayStation Stars

First, you need to have an account with PlayStation Network, Sony’s online service. (A free account is fine, though members of Sony’s PlayStation Plus subscription will get added benefits.) In the PlayStation App, you’ll see a blue button with a star on it in the top navigation bar. Follow the steps by clicking on this button.

A console-based copy of the program is currently not available.

Are there any rewards?

PlayStation Stars rewards primarily fall into one of two categories: digital collectibles — trophies you can store in a digital trophy case on the PlayStation App — or points, which can be used on more collectibles or on games from the PlayStation Store.

You get a bonus collector at level 2. You get an additional bonus collectible once you reach level 3 (buy 2 games). Collectibles for birthday. At level four (buy four games), you unlock “chat priority routing — basically early access to customer support queries, though in a FAQ, Sony said wait times are “subject to availability.”

The rewards are digitalized statues, which you cannot see in a mobile application. You can view any you’ve unlocked in the Case, featured on the PlayStation App’s front page (it’s the blue bar mocked up with God of War text).

So… NFTs?

“It’s definitely not NFTs. Definitely not,” Sony vice president of network advertising, loyalty and licensed merchandise Grace Chen told The Washington Post. “You can’t trade them or sell them. It is not leveraging any blockchain technologies and definitely not NFTs.”

How do you tackle these challenges?

Campaigns are quite simple. You can use the example of October Check in campaign that’s currently active on my account, I have to complete a rudimentary objective: “play any game (PS4/PS5).” Once I finish it, I’ll unlock the PlayStation Tech Demo Tyrannosaurs rex — a dinosaur standing in front of a tree, a reference to a tech demo for the original PlayStation.

Some campaigns fall into the category of “spend money to make (a tiny pittance) of money.” For the PlayStation Store Selections campaign, I need to buy one of six specific games — NBA 2K23, Saints Row, The TMNT Collection, Part I of The Last of Us, Madden NFL 23Or Encryption, Polygon’s 2021 GOTY — at full price from the PlayStation Store. In return, I’ll earn 50 points.

Sony said it won’t require you play any streamed PS3 games — a perk that’s only available to people who sign up for the priciest tier of PlayStation Plus — for any campaigns.

What is the value of PlayStation Points?

Spending over 200 points will get you a collectible on a rotational roster. You can also spend points on games, though the exchange rate isn’t an exact science. The PlayStation App allows you to exchange points for just a few titles right now.

• Cult of the Lamb (6,250 points)
• It takes two (10,000 points)
• Hades (6,250 points)
• Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice (15,000 points)
• Quarry (17,500 points)

PlayStation Store points can be used to redeem for funds. 1,250 points = $5 and 5,000 = $20. Points cannot be transferred to or traded.

Are you sure it’s worth it?

It doesn’t matter if the game costs money. Ponying up for a full-priced game in exchange for less than $1 of PlayStation Store funds isn’t exactly enticing, no matter how you do the math. And whatever your thoughts on “not NFTs,” keeping them locked in a mobile app, where they can’t be viewed or traded, seems silly. PlayStation Stars, however, is completely free.