PlayStation Vita not limited to one PSN log-in

By Fred Dutton Published 8 December, 2011

But you'll need multiple memory cards to swap IDs.

The PlayStation Vita is not limited to a single PlayStation Network log-in, as widely reported last week, Sony has confirmed.

However, you will need to either restore factory settings every time you want to change accounts or buy two separate proprietary memory cards.

Sony exec Crystal MacKenzie told Wired that PSN accounts will be linked to the memory cards, not the system itself.

"Your PSN ID is bonded to your memory card and your memory card is bonded to your Vita," she explained

"So if you wanted to change different PSN users but use the same memory card, you would need to go factory reset."

Should that not appeal, MacKenzie added that you can also host different accounts on different memory cards. Judging by the cards' US price tags, that might work out as a rather expensive option.

Picture of Fred.

About Fred Dutton

Fred Dutton is Eurogamer's US news editor, based in Washington DC.

Read more articles from Fred by visiting the Fred Dutton archive page.

You may also like...

Comments (37) Latest comment 3 months ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Eldritch #1 3 months ago

    I always thought Sony's devices use Memory Sticks.

  • MoGamer2006 #2 3 months ago

    "PSN accounts will be linked to the memory cards"

    KER-CHING!!!

  • metamorphic #3 3 months ago

    Uh, why would you want to use the "proprietary" or more expensive memory cards? If anything, memory cards should be cheaper than ever before with all the third-party ones you can get.
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/11 @ 17:56

  • Zoe_E_W #4 3 months ago

    Okay, that's not so bad as the first story made it out. I can totally see getting a separate memory card for hubby to have his own account. So when he wants to use it I can just slip out my card and voila, his card will use his login credentials on boot up.

    I was really bummed out that I might have to miss out on the Vita because of the one account problem. But I have no problems springing for hubby to have his own card. I had to plunk down nearly the same money to buy a second controller for him to play co-op, so I'll just add it to our start-up expenses for the hardware and first games and budget accordingly.

    Whew! Very glad to see there's a better solution than resetting to factory defaults every single time just to change players. (^_^)

  • Apaar #5 3 months ago

    This is not optimal, but still a huge improvement over what was reported earlier.

  • asphaltcowboy #6 3 months ago

    @metamorphic I think it's pretty clear why...

  • Toothball #7 3 months ago

    That's not a terrible way to manage multiple accounts. Having different region games stored on different memory cards is a decent way to organise them, albeit one that costs more.

    I am curious about whether someone with one profile can use multiple cards though. Will the bond between profile and card be one-to-one, or can one profile use many cards? Also, will it be possible to deactivate your profile remotely if you lose the card? I guess we'll find out in time.

  • NotSoSlim #8 3 months ago

    Could explain new cards i guess. Its beetr than what was reported but think about getting 2 32gb memory cards....:eek:
    Edited by 1 at 08/12/11 @ 18:16

  • coolbritannia #9 3 months ago

    Still a rip off whichever way you look at it. No wonder PSN is free.

  • metamorphic #10 3 months ago

    @asphaltcowboy: Have Sony stated that you can't use third-party memory cards on the device at all? Or that normal cards won't work?

  • Whizzo #11 3 months ago

    The memory cards for the Vita are a proprietary design and are extremely small, there are no third party cards.

  • Beano #12 3 months ago

    @metamorphic The memory cards are Vita specific and not used by any other devices or licensed to other companies (as far as I know). The console cannot use other memory card types obviously.

  • Feanor #13 3 months ago

    @coolbritannia Then Xbox Live should be free because MS over charges for proprietary hard drives and memory cards.

  • Gojiratron #14 3 months ago

    So what if one user wanted to use multiple memory cards? Presumably that's not a problem?

    That's an excellent point raised there. Any chance EG can get info from Sony on whether or not this is the case? I'd rather know from the outset if it's worth buying a larger card straight away to save me hassle later on.

  • arcam #15 3 months ago

    They may not license the tech, but I'd expect China to reserve engineer them pretty quickly and hopefully you'll be able to buy black market versions on eBay.

  • -cerberus- #16 3 months ago

    Another jerk move by Fony.

  • coolbritannia #17 3 months ago

    @Feanor true, but you're not limited to one profile per hard drive.

  • repeater #18 3 months ago

    This is GENIUS. :D

    (Way to commit PR suicide these last few weeks, Sony)

  • davisorle #19 3 months ago

    Vita is not an option anymore. Im not going to pay 60$ just for 2x4GB mems. Knowing I dont like people messing with my saves and accounts. First the 3DS kinda put me off and now the more I hear about Vita the more Im thinking of going back to buying a 3DS.Im not paying premium price for just a backtouch panel. ty. :(

  • Astro-Creature #20 3 months ago

    The reason for the memory sticks is to make it more difficult for hacker scum.

  • coolbritannia #21 3 months ago

    Hey Astro Creature, remember that time you told us all the PSN hack was fake that Sony had released to catch hackers? Whenever you post, I think of that and pmsl.

  • NotSoSlim #22 3 months ago

    Its obviously due to piracy. However they should include 4gb in box of the 3g one at least.

    Sony cannot afford a piracy ridden Vita. 3ds is still basically piracy free, Sony needs the same outcome

  • Lunatic4ever #23 3 months ago

    I think it becomes fairly obvious that sony wants to make a loooot of money with those memory cards,right?

    I dont like it.

  • Astro-Creature #24 3 months ago

    @coolbritannia It was a joke, mate.

    :/

  • mr_bez #25 3 months ago

    Not a lot better than the original story IMO. The obvious consequence is that two people using the same system can't play the same downloaded game, or use the same DLC for a game on disc, without downloading it twice.

  • Nismo400R84 #26 3 months ago

    @JAGUARCD32x there is a very old saying whats yours is mine and whats mine is my own

  • Nazo #27 3 months ago

    Also, does this imply that the factory reset method requires wiping the memory card to work?

  • Rodster #28 3 months ago

    And you wonder why people are happily playing 10P games on their Android devices? This portable gaming delivery system is past it's prime. Nintendo got a huge wake up call and now it's Sony's turn.

  • simsini #29 3 months ago

    Another nail in their own coffin. Will stick with Android and iOS and give this a miss.

  • DodgyPast #30 3 months ago

    <quote>mr_bez wrote:
    Not a lot better than the original story IMO. The obvious consequence is that two people using the same system can't play the same downloaded game, or use the same DLC for a game on disc, without downloading it twice.</quote>

    Yes they can. Just have to use the same profile.

    Still annoying though... And suspect next gen people will continue to be further limited in the way they can use their own content.

  • Indy #31 3 months ago

    And here I was thinking they were really serious about making things less confusing on Vita. Dear oh dear.

  • Darksjeik #32 3 months ago

    I'm not thinking about this article yet. I'm still busy wrapping my head around the fact that a 32GB Vita memorycard retails for the price a a 90 GB SSD. And I thought THOSE were expensive.

  • Turfschipper #33 3 months ago

    So, i only have an account when i have a memory card? But they told ''some'' games needed the memorycard.

    But what about the others? Do i have to play them without an account?

    Whats the use oa a ps vita without a memorycard? can i play games? can i use media like twitter? With which account?Private messages? skype?

    I am lost....
    Edited by 1 at 09/12/11 @ 02:28

  • layleeloo #34 3 months ago

    ANOTHER robbery ploy

  • michaelius #35 3 months ago

    @simsini I hope you enjoy angry birds clones for next few years then ;)

  • spliffhead #36 3 months ago

    Shame on you Vita, this time next year it'll be £100 in a bundle.

  • gruntboy #37 3 months ago

    udging by the cards' US price tags, that might work out as a rather expensive option.
    Yeah, you seem to be confusing "a shop putting some prices up" with "an announcement" there.