PSN accounts to be renamed Sony Entertainment Network accounts tomorrow

By Robert Purchese Published 6 February, 2012

UPDATE: Sony amends statement again.

Update #2: Sony has contacted Eurogamer to amend the earlier statement, which we now know to have been missing a word.

Unfortunately that word, "account", changes the meaning when added.

The statement becomes: "It's just an account name change and will be called SEN from now on. Should make it clearer and easier for people to associate the service with all Sony products and have one log-in."

Update #1: It's not just PlayStation Network accounts that will be renamed - the entire PSN platform will become Sony Entertainment Network, Sony has explained to Eurogamer.

A Sony spokesperson said being called SEN will help make it "clearer and easier" for people to associate the service with "all Sony products" and use one log-in.

Original story: PlayStation Network accounts are to be renamed Sony Entertainment Network accounts from tomorrow, 7th February, Sony has announced.

This will happen via a Terms of Service, User Agreement and Privacy Policy update.

"The rebranding of PlayStation Network accounts to Sony Entertainment Network accounts is a change in name only," explained Sony in an explanatory email. "Your username or password will not change, nor are we asking you to change them.

prince

Prince changed his name once, too.

"This transition is based on Sony's goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering."

Sony

"On Sony Computer Entertainment's PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita systems, this rebranding will occur in connection with software updates for these devices. (Note, this change will not be applied to the PSP system at this time.)

"This transition is based on Sony's goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering," Sony added. "As a series of these activities Sony started last September, PlayStation Network will be aligned with Sony Entertainment Network. This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account."

"The Sony Entertainment Network account also enables use of Sony's compelling non-game services such as Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited and PlayMemories Online (currently called Personal Space) across a variety of network-connected devices.

"If you do not agree with the new Terms of Service and User Agreement or Privacy Policy, you may decline to accept them, and you will no longer be able to access your account."

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds. @Clert on Twitter.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (73) Latest comment 3 months ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Lexx87 #1 4 months ago

    Doesn't quite have the same ring to it, but I get why they are doing it.

    Convergence is the way forward, until it kills everyone like it did in Dead Space.
    Edited by Lexx87 at 06/02/12 @ 09:23

  • GamesConnoisseur #2 4 months ago

    That a good thing, as I expect this mean my purchases would be recognised in all kind of medium. As was peeved at the idea of having to repurchasing PSN's game on Android's Playstation Suite for the same PS1 games.

    This bodes well for the future.

  • arcam #3 4 months ago

    8 syllables - rubbish name.

  • Psiloc #4 4 months ago

    I really doubt they'd rename the PSN at this point. I'd imagine they're just moving PSN accounts to SEN and doing the same for all their other online services. It's a sensible move; they're aiming for something like how your Apple ID is used for everything Apple related.

    EDIT: Well there you go, totally wrong then.

    EDIT 2: Right the first time!
    Edited by Psiloc at 08/02/12 @ 13:29

  • TopKatt #5 4 months ago

    Wonder if this'll fix the playstation store problems that quite a few of us are having.

  • Triggerhappytel #6 4 months ago

    I don't mean to be pedantic, but:

    "Kaz Hirai gets to work."

    I thought he doesn't take over until April?
    Edited by Triggerhappytel at 06/02/12 @ 09:39

  • rotmm #7 4 months ago

    @GamesConnoisseur "...as I expect this mean my purchases would be recognised in all kind of medium..."

    I don't think that's something that you can automatically expect with regards to games. However, I'd expect that it'll be the case for music and probably also films.

  • tankboi #8 4 months ago

    Your name now belongs to me. Now you will be known as Sen.

  • Bleh #9 4 months ago

    You could better say leaving a damaged name behind.

  • Toothball #10 4 months ago

    @tankboi

    I don't remember what it used to be called any more. Guess I'm stuck here.

  • DirectAim #11 4 months ago

    The issue with Sony is their lack of content.

    The USA PSN has hundreds of games available yet the EU has about a 40, you get resident evil 1,2 or 3 on the EU store but you can on the USA Store! This is just one of many examples! A game added to PSN should be available globally and on any Sony device able to run it!


    Im not buying the new vita due to.this fact, they need to sort it all out as other platforms are becoming more.open, Sony just seem to.bring out hardware that isn't supported like it should be!

  • midnight_walker #12 4 months ago

    I work in a school. I see SEN, I hear Special Educational Needs.
    Edited by midnight_walker at 06/02/12 @ 10:03

  • tachometer #13 4 months ago

    I just hope they're ready for February 29th

  • TheEarlOfZinger #14 4 months ago

    *shrugs*

  • ShiftyGeezer #15 4 months ago

    @arcam : essien, like the footballer. Same contraction as everyone using pee-essen.

  • xero521 #16 4 months ago

    anyone else having problems downloading anything from the store? i can buy but not download my usa account works fine

  • Arwin #17 4 months ago

    Good, hopefully they pull it off properly, and we get to see our downloaded list again ... :)

    Seriously though glad to see they've finally done this. Good shot now at becoming a relevant platform the likes of iTunes, as they can become a pretty major player on Android.

  • anthonypappa #18 4 months ago

    sounds shit. not catchy at all.

    don't really see why playstation has to integrate with other sony stuff. probably just one of those magic rebranding efforts after the PSN hack. change name, it's like nothing ever happened.

  • Murton #19 4 months ago

    Bringing all of their services under one account and one method of access is great, but unless they also address the disparity in terms of content, release date and price between EU and USA then this will be looked back on by gamers as yet another missed opportunity for SCE to get rid of their regional operating strategy.

    Dungeon Defenders, Mortal Kombat Arkade, Trine 2. All delayed for months in Europe due to QA failings, but in all three cases the US release is identical and yet it passed QA there. Last week's Plus Update was delayed so that there wouldn't be a 6 day gap between EU and USA. It's this sort of stuff that we want to see changed on PSN, not the name.

  • RodHull #20 4 months ago

    Can sort of see why Sony want their entire portfolio talking to the same network, but the Playstation name stop carries a lot of kudos, arguably more than that of Sony. I just hope they don't take the service off line for ages to rebrand it. This inclement weather means I'll be "working" from home a lot this week and there's a stack of games- sorry, paperwork that needs sorting.

  • mkreku #21 4 months ago

    SEN means late in Swedish.

  • ShiftyGeezer #22 4 months ago

    @anthonypappa : It has to integrate because it's all the same stuff! Why have separate PSN movie store and Movie Unlimited store on SEN? Why have separate download titles on PSN and then the same games for you smartphone or TV on SEN? As a content platform it's essential and very welcome.

  • Lankysi #23 4 months ago

    @midnight_walker haha beat me to it. It was the first thing I thought of, Special Educational Needs

  • redcrayon #24 4 months ago

    SEN means 'special educational needs' in UK schools.

    Nice one, Sony.

  • ZuluHero #25 4 months ago

    Well the repercussions of this are yet to be SEN...

    (sorry)

  • Nevflinn #26 4 months ago

    For upcoming Dark Souls DLC, we will have to pass through SEN's Fortress.
    Edited by Nevflinn at 06/02/12 @ 11:12

  • deded #27 4 months ago

    @tankboi Beat me to it.

    "What's your name?"

    "Playst- er, it's SEN."

    I don't like it much, but in a month it'll be forgotten. 'SEN' at least rolls off the tongue better than P-S-N. Wouldn't a real word like 'Live' be better though? I could see Vita working better as a name, if they hadn't used it already.

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #28 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 15:13:22 09-05-2012

  • hedges1001 #29 4 months ago

    throw a COM and a RAV into the mix and you've got a great party paradigm

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #30 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • gruntboy #31 4 months ago

    Awesome use of Prince picture :D

  • apan #32 4 months ago

    So are you supposed to say "ess ee enn" och "sen" as a word? Sony Live would have been a much better name, deliberately resembling of xbox live and giving you a hint of wht its about.

  • StooMonster #33 4 months ago

    Well, we knew this was coming.

    Recently Sony talked about the success they had by locking their content to their SEN platform in Japan, at least for a time limited period. They also said they were going to expand this approach.

    Sir Howard Stinger described SEN as “a tripartite attack on the world" and that “we’ve got content, we’ve got hardware and we’ve got networks — the only question is can we marry them and get it right.”

    At CES he mentioned that “We’ve had a lot of success with our own television shows in Japan, and we released a Will Smith movie [Hancock] on our network first on a limited exclusive run.”

    This was a controversial move because only SEN users were able to watch a Sony made film, Sir Howard said "How we use our content is always going to be critical — the SEN’s purpose was always to increase the sale of hardware and we have to be sensitive to our partners. People want content earlier and why should we surrender it to other partners earlier when we have it ourselves? But we are exploring it with a level of sensitivity you would expect from a company that’s on both sides of the fence."

    How long before we have Sony Pictures movies and Sony Music label artists streaming locked to SEN products (which includes PS3, PSP, Vita, Sony Blu-ray players, Sony 'smart' Bravia TVs, Sony Xperia phones, Sony Vaio laptops, Sony tablets) and unavailable to other platforms and OEM?

  • Goodfella #34 4 months ago

    @Biker_Bob_1971

    Jesus H Christ, your anti Sony rants are pathetic.

  • coolbritannia #35 4 months ago

    XBOX live officially outlives PSN. As others have noted, to the delight of the downvoters, this is about leaving a damaged brand behind.

    Removing Playstation from the name does nothing to douse my suspicions that PS3 is Sony's last home console.

  • matsumoto #36 4 months ago

    @mkreku and it means "dream" in polish. i wonder if the network will become one.

  • DrStrangelove #37 4 months ago

    I certainly didn't expect to see Prince in this article.

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #38 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 15:13:22 09-05-2012

  • Architect_z #39 4 months ago

    Sounds too American. Could you call it Sony's Unhackable Network?

  • BeardofZeus #40 4 months ago

    @StooMonster Sounds a good way to lose a decent portion of their audience and become more irrelevant to the wider world. Sorta like the paywalls News International are throwing up on their sites.

  • coolbritannia #41 4 months ago

    @Biker_Bob, please do not feed the Goodfella. He only crops up to defend his precious. He'll be gone soon.

  • Cardiff1 #42 4 months ago

    Lets not lose any sleep over it. We all eventually got over PJ & Duncan.

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #43 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 15:13:22 09-05-2012

  • NotSoSlim #44 4 months ago

    @coolbritannia Whast if it is the last home console? Would it give you satisfaction to know we can all bend over for MS and get shafted ala PC market.

    Obviously know Ninty are doing there own thing. Even if you or anyone hates Sony not to have them competing with MS will be bad for gaming make no mistake.

    Shame fanboyism (not even a word) make people blinded to how damaging no competition would be unless people want Apple involved

  • not_themilkybarkid #45 4 months ago

    @Biker_Bob_1971 Is that you, Drashek?

  • MARKIV #46 4 months ago

    If only they'd even give us a chance to change our PSN user name, that might be a start..!

  • Goodfella #47 4 months ago

    @NotSoSlim

    Please do not feed the coolbritannia. He only crops up talk shit. He'll be gone soon.

  • TheEarlOfZinger #48 4 months ago

    Sony ambulance chasers out in force as usual I see.

  • -cerberus- #49 4 months ago

    "If you do not agree with the new Terms of Service and User Agreement or Privacy Policy, you may decline to accept them, and you will no longer be able to access your account."

    Hmm, tempting! :)

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #50 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #51 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • Toothball #52 4 months ago

    As for what to call it day-to-day, I figured I'd use 'Sony Account'. There are more interesting things to dwell on over how you might pronounce SEN.

  • Fruit-Salad #53 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 01:35:51 08-02-2012

  • UkHardcore23 #54 4 months ago

    Are we finally getting a unified online setup like Live?

  • RGeefe #55 4 months ago

    silly name but I get why. I hate the name "vita" though. I hear it said "vee-ta" and "vie-ta". I say "vie-ta" because "vee-ta" reminds me too much of aqua vita.

  • Hadhan #56 4 months ago

    @midnight_walker
    As a parent of a disabled child that's the first thing I thought of too.
    Does this mean that Sony is working on DDA requirements for game submissions?

  • Jamieb87 #57 4 months ago

    Couldn't care less, I've got this week off work and I'm deep in the throes of dark souls, as long as PSN/SEN doesn't go offline I'll be happy.

    Without some jolly cooperation I'm screwed...

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #58 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • frunk #59 4 months ago

    "Content is King" as they say.

    This is really Sony's strength, out of every provider out there Sony is the only one with:
    - a network
    - hardware to view content
    - music studios (10 labels and all their sub-labels)
    - film studios (13 of them)
    - TV stations (29 of them)
    - game development studios

    Just a shame it took them too long to bring them all together.

    MS, Apple, Nintendo are all in a different ball game if Sony decides to flex it's content muscle and bring them all together effectively.

    Again I say - All rumours of Sony's imminent demise are somewhat short sighted.

  • maximusfarticus #60 4 months ago

    How the hell does sony changing the name of their online service equate to being butt fucked????

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #61 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #62 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • Biker_Bob_1971 #63 4 months ago

    Post deleted at 16:59:10 06-02-2012

  • maximusfarticus #64 4 months ago

    @Biker_Bob_1971 " I am truly done with gaming. Enjoy your hobby, guys. I know I didn't anymore"

    That's because you only have an Xbox.

    Bye Bob!!!

  • M1chl #65 4 months ago

    SEN means Dream in Czech...so have a good one Sony : )

  • scuffpuppies #66 4 months ago

    @Biker_Bob_1971 "And on another note: this will be my last post here"

    Thank f**k for that. You never understood that you're just as boring as the people that blindly support a system or publisher. So please don't go an register a new user account...please.

    If you feel the need to be a moaning little bitch, go to IGN.

  • zubnut #67 4 months ago

    SEN in Uzbekistan means Wanker

  • jellyBelly #68 4 months ago

    senators sensibly sent sentient sentries to senegal

  • erasr #69 4 months ago

    While they are at it I wish they could let us change our user names if we wish to :-(

  • Acrid #70 4 months ago

    Tonight on EuroGamer news.
    Sony renaming PSN to SEN, gamers of the world shrug and continue to call it PSN anyway.

  • np #71 4 months ago

    Sigh...

  • teresaswan #72 3 months ago

    Post deleted at 07:52:37 07-03-2012

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