PlayStation Network (PSN) is an online gaming service created by Sony for use with PlayStation gaming consoles. It allows users to play games online, download games and demos, access streaming services, chat with friends, and more. PSN has over 90 million monthly active users.
The PlayStation Network (PSN) is an online service created and maintained by Sony Interactive Entertainment for use with its PlayStation series of video game consoles. Launched in 2006, PSN was originally the free online service on PlayStation 3 (PS3), before becoming a paid subscription service for PlayStation Portable (PSP) owners. PSN is available on PlayStation 4 (PS4), PlayStation 3 (PS3), PlayStation Vita, PlayStation Portable (PSP), PlayStation TV, Android, iOS, and certain Sony BRAVIA TVs.
PSN allows online multiplayer gaming and provides downloadable content from PlayStation Store, including full games, game add-ons, television shows and movies. Online multiplayer requires a PlayStation Plus subscription and is currently free on PS4, PS5 and PS Vita, but paid on PS3. Other services include PlayStation Store, which allows online purchases of games and media; PlayStation Now, a cloud-based streaming gaming service similar to Netflix; PlayStation Video, which allows users to purchase and stream movies and TV shows; PlayStation Music, a streaming music service; and PlayStation Home, a discontinued virtual world social gaming platform.
Some key features of PSN include online game matchmaking, digital rights management, free game demos, automatic system updates, activity feeds and profiles, multiplayer gaming, access to streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and social tools like messaging, video chat and user groups. The service has over 90 million monthly active users worldwide and sees over 70 million online multiplayer sessions monthly, making it one of the largest and most widely-used online gaming services.