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A recent PS5 system update quietly initiated a major change that’s only becoming apparent now, thanks to a new report. Yesterday, a well-known insider stated that Sony plans to phase out the PlayStation Network (PSN) branding by September 2026, and early signs show that this process has already started.
The information comes from Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming, who obtained an internal email sent by Sony to developers. In the message, Sony explains, “We’ve decided to gradually retire the terms ‘PlayStation Network’ and ‘PSN’ across our platform to better reflect our expanding digital services.”
Upon powering on my console, I noticed Sony has already begun removing references to PSN from the PS5 interface. For example, “PlayStation Network” has been replaced simply with “PlayStation,” and the PSN logo has been swapped for a generic PlayStation icon.
For comparison, here’s what that screen looked like earlier, courtesy of Android Police, featuring the traditional PSN branding and logo. Additionally, on the “Test Internet Connection” screen, “PlayStation Network sign-in” has been renamed to “Sign in to online services.”
Sony is also removing PSN from its official web pages. The popular service status webpage, which users check when PSN encounters outages, is now titled “PlayStation Status,” with no mention of PSN.
It’s clear that Henderson’s report isn’t just speculation — this rebranding effort is already underway. Regarding Sony’s future plans, some industry analysts suggest the company aims to develop a comprehensive subscription service that offers games, movies, TV shows, music, and possibly anime—all in one package.
While these changes may not sit well with some fans, especially if they’re used to the familiar branding, Sony appears confident that with limited competition in the gaming industry, they can implement these shifts without much pushback.
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