Latest news with #PlayStationBlog
Metro
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
PlayStation Stars loyalty programme is closing but Sony promises replacement
Sony is shutting down the PlayStation Stars loyalty scheme for PS4 and PS5 and it's already stopped taking new members. After significantly downgrading the service in 2024, Sony has done the inevitable and announced that the PlayStation Stars loyalty programme is to be closed, after just three years. The service allowed you to earn points by buying and playing games, which could be used as discounts for various PlayStation products, including games. However, you needed to earn thousands in order to get a full-priced game and that became even harder when Sony tightened the rules last year. Although fine in theory, PlayStation Stars was never very well promoted and Sony seemed to quickly lose interest in it. But while it's now in the process of being shuttered they have promised to replace it with something better. 'Since launching the programme, we've learned a lot from evaluating the types of activities our players respond best to, and as a company, we are always evolving with player and industry trends,' reads the annoucement on the PlayStation Blog. 'Through this evaluation, we have decided to refocus our efforts and will be winding down the current version of PlayStation Stars. We will continue to evaluate our key findings from this programme and are looking into ways to build upon these learnings.' Starting immediately, PlayStation Stars will not accept any new members and if you cancel your membership now you'll lose all your points, no matter how many you have. Members will still be able to spend their credits and level up their status, but only until July 23 at 3.59pm BST. After that there will be no new rewards or status benefits, with the whole service shutting down completely on November 2, 2026. More Trending Whether the PlayStation Stars name will be kept in the future is unknown. It's also unclear whether the replacement will be up and running before the current one closes down, as it's a long wait until next November. The programme's brief lifespan may have been the result of the collapse of the NFT market, which it initially seemed like PlayStation Stars had been designed for. The digital collectibles are not NFTs though and cannot be traded or sold, but some suspect that was the initial idea, before Sony thought better of it. 'We want to thank all of our players for supporting PlayStation Stars since the launch in 2022. As we explore new ways to evolve our loyalty program efforts for the future, we'll continue to celebrate all of our players through the various community activities we have planned,' is the only other thing Sony has to say on the matter. Email gamecentral@ leave a comment below, follow us on Twitter, and sign-up to our newsletter. To submit Inbox letters and Reader's Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our Submit Stuff page here. For more stories like this, check our Gaming page. MORE: Mario Kart World was originally designed for Switch 1 reveals Nintendo MORE: Xbox exclusive with best graphics ever is getting enhanced on PS5 Pro MORE: Cyberpunk 2077 sequel will feature at least two cities says franchise creator
Engadget
21-05-2025
- Business
- Engadget
Sony is ending its PlayStation Stars loyalty program
Sony is opting out of its PlayStation Stars loyalty program. Starting today, you can no longer sign up for the program. If you're a member and cancel your membership, you won't be able to sign up again. Current members can still earn points and digital collectibles and level up their status until July 23 at 9:59 PM ET. After that, all campaigns and rewards will be kaput. The program will be entirely discontinued on November 2. But if you keep your membership until then, you can still redeem your points after that, provided they haven't expired. Sony launched PlayStation Stars in 2022. The company's first loyalty program lets you earn points by playing games and making purchases on the PlayStation Store. You can redeem points for items like PSN wallet funds and select store products. The company will now "refocus" its approach to rewards. (How, we don't know.) "We want to thank all of our players for supporting PlayStation Stars since the launch in 2022," Sony wrote on the PlayStation Blog. "As we explore new ways to evolve our loyalty program efforts for the future, we'll continue to celebrate all of our players through the various community activities we have planned."
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Helldivers 2's Illuminate Update Overhauls Combat, Cosmetics and the In-Game Economy
Arrowhead Game Studios' Helldivers 2 continues to expand with fresh content, as the team unveils a new Illuminate threat and updates to the Superstore in defence of Super Earth. A major update has landed on the battlefields of Helldivers 2. A new post on the PlayStation Blog has warned players of looming Illuminate forces spreading across the galaxy, and it's up to Super Earth's finest to hold the line. Patch 01.003.000 is now live on both PC and PlayStation 5, introducing more dangerous Illuminate enemies, significant changes to the Superstore, and new weapon customization options for the more style-conscious Helldiver. Arrowhead Game Studios has also released an official trailer for the patch, which can be viewed below. Since being introduced as a threat to the Super Earth way of life, the Illuminate have grown in both numbers and variety. Helldivers 2 has issued a Galactic Emergency, alerting all Helldivers to the expanding Illuminate scourge. After several warnings posted on social media, Arrowhead Game Studios has pulled back the curtain on new Illuminate enemy types. Among them is the Stingray, a jet-fighter-style adversary that provides aerial fire support for Illuminate forces. Another new threat is the Crescent Overseer, a unit capable of launching heavy barrages to flush Helldivers out of cover. Lastly, new intel has revealed failed Illuminate experiments known as the Fleshmob. These grotesque creations are the Illuminate's answer to Frankenstein's monster—assembled from 'voteless parts' and turned into brute battlefield enforcers. Helldivers will need to work together to take them down. Details remain scarce, and like previous adversaries, players will need to learn more about the Fleshmob through direct engagement in the field. To fight back the new threat, Helldivers 2 has given Helldivers the ability to customize their weapon load outs. Nearly every weapon in the game can now be personalized with new colourways, allowing Helldivers to express individuality on the battlefield. In addition to these cosmetic upgrades, players can now equip new weapon attachments to help eliminate threats to Super Earth with greater efficiency. Arrowhead has also deployed patterns for the FRV themes on Viper Commandos, Freedom's Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers Warbonds. These patterns unlock on May 15, with the launch of the Masters of Ceremony Warbond. In addition to the latest patch updates, Helldivers 2 has overhauled the Superstore to better serve players who don't log in daily. Previously, Superstore items would rotate out quickly, frustrating some fans. In response to player feedback, Arrowhead Game Studios has extended the duration items remain in the store. With today's update, Helldivers can now view all current Superstore offerings and make purchases at any time, eliminating the need to wait for future rotations. The new Helldivers 2 patch 01.003.000 is live now, and fans looking for more information on overall balance notes can visit the official Steam page for a detailed breakdown.
Digital Trends
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Helldivers 2 now lets players customize their favorite weapons
Helldivers 2 received an unexpected update with new weapon customizations and more enemy types, just in time for the Illuminate to come roaring out of a black hole with their sights set on Super Earth. 'In a sudden, completely unprovoked offensive, they emerged. Nothing is safe, not even the heart of democracy itself,' the announcer shouts, exaggerated gravitas in his voice. 'Liberty's darkest hour approaches. Super Earth needs you.' The update lands with all of the tongue-in-cheek humor that Helldivers 2 brings to the table, but it also introduces new Illuminate enemy types, including the jetfighter-like Stingray and the Crescent Overseer, a foe that can launch attacks over cover. Then there's the Fleshmob, described as 'a Frankenstein's monster of Voteless parts' that is reminiscent of Flood Carriers from Halo. The PlayStation Blog post hints at other, as-yet-unannounced enemies. Recommended Videos Helldivers can now customize their weapons, too. Most primary weapons have levels that can be raised by completing specific missions, and players can unlock different attachments that tweak everything from handling to ammo capacity. The update allows players to fine-tune their favorite gun to suit their playstyle by adjusting stats like recoil, reload time, and more. There are also new skins to pick from for each weapon, too. Helldiver 2's Superstore is also getting a boost. You don't have to wait for things to come back into rotation; instead, you can browse through the entire library of items and purchase the ones you want with Super Credits, the game's premium currency (but it can also be found in missions, so you don't have to spend any realm money.) Finally, the update also tosses in a few new patterns for the Fast Recon Vehicle in several existing Warbonds, including Viper Commandos, Freedom's Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers. The patterns unlock on May 15, coinciding with the launch of the new Masters of Ceremony Warbond.
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Helldivers 2 update adds Illuminate enemies, weapon customization, and permanent Superstore items
Helldivers 2 has launched a major update, introducing new enemy types, weapon customization features, and adjustments to in-game progression and the Superstore. Patch 01.003.000 is now live for players on both PC and PlayStation 5, according to IGN and the PlayStation Blog. Leading the update is a renewed invasion from the Illuminate faction. Players will encounter new adversaries such as the Stingray—an aerial support jet that targets squads with strafing runs—and the Crescent Overseer, capable of launching devastating barrages at Helldivers in cover. Another addition, the Fleshmob, is described as a failed Illuminate experiment, combining mismatched alien parts into a brute-force attacker. Arrowhead also teased sightings of larger, unidentified enemy ships, suggesting more surprises await on the battlefield. For the first time, players can now customize and progress their weapons. Primary weapons gain levels through missions, unlocking attachments via Requisition. Sights, muzzles, magazines, under-barrel attachments, and cosmetic patterns can be fine-tuned for tactical and visual performance, offering deeper loadout control. The update also introduces themed weapon patterns from the Viper Commandos, Freedom's Flame, Chemical Agents, and Truth Enforcers Warbonds. These will be available starting May 15 with the launch of the Masters of Ceremony Warbond. In a quality-of-life improvement, the Superstore will now keep items permanently available, eliminating the need to wait for rotating inventory. Lastly, patch 01.003.000 includes a wide balance update, tweaking weapon spread, melee stamina use, shrapnel mechanics, and fire damage effects.
