PlayStation Terms of Service (US)

Account & Service Control · Procedure

Using PlayStation Services means accepting the terms, including by continuing after a change

Access to and use of PlayStation Services is expressly conditioned on accepting this Agreement. You accept it by creating a PlayStation account, by making a purchase on the PlayStation Store, through any other use of PlayStation Services, or by continuing to use the Services after being notified of a change to the terms. If you do not agree, you will not be able to access or use PlayStation Services. Elsewhere (Section 16) SIE says it may modify the terms at any time, including imposing a fee for creating Accounts or for any of its Services; if material changes are made, you will be notified by e-mail or other communication when you sign in, and your continued use, including use by your children on the associated Accounts, signifies acceptance of the changes.

Supporting quotations

Access to and use of PlayStation Services is expressly conditioned upon acceptance of this Agreement

You accept this Agreement by creating an account for PlayStation

by making a purchase on the PlayStation Store, or through any other use of PlayStation Services, or by continuing to use Services after being notified of a change to these Terms

If you do not agree to these Terms, you will not be able to access or use PlayStation Services.

We may modify the terms of this Agreement at any time, including imposing a fee for creating Accounts or for any of our Services

If material changes to this Agreement are made, you will be notified by e-mail or other communication when you sign in to theServices

Your continued use of theServices, including use by your children on the associated Accounts, will signify your acceptance of those changes

Qualifications & exceptions

• The notice rule applies to material changes; the text does not say how a change that is not material is announced.

Not stated here

• The text does not say how a change that is not material would be announced, and does not give a minimum notice period before a change takes effect.

Cross-references

• refers to (model-proposed): SIE can change the terms at any time; continued use after notice of material changes means you accept — Accepting by continued use after notice of a change (section 1) is the same mechanism Section 16.1 describes for modifications.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

You must be 18 or the age of majority; younger users need a parent or guardian who agrees to be bound

To accept the terms you represent that you are at least 18 and have reached the legal age of majority in the country where your account is registered. If you are younger than that, you must have reviewed the terms with your parent or guardian, and they must have agreed to be bound by the terms, in order for you to use PlayStation Services. The agreement also encourages you to review the Rules for Younger Players at a linked web address.

Supporting quotations

you represent that you are at least 18 years of age and have reached the legal age of majority in the country in which your account is registered

If you are younger than 18 or have not yet reached the legal age of majority in the country in which your account is registered

you must have reviewed these Terms with your parent or guardian and they have agreed to be bound by these Terms in order for you to use PlayStation Services

We also encourage you to review the Rules for Younger Players

Qualifications & exceptions

• The age limit is 18 or the legal age of majority in the country where the account is registered, as the text puts it.

Not stated here

• The Rules for Younger Players are linked but their text is not supplied here.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

A parent or guardian who accepts for a child accepts liability for the child's actions

If you accept the Agreement on behalf of a child under 18, you represent that you are the child's parent or legal guardian, affirm that you accept the Agreement and acknowledge the PlayStation Privacy Policy on the child's behalf, and accept all liability for the child's actions on the Services and compliance with the terms.

Supporting quotations

you also (a) represent that you are the parent or legal guardian of the child

accept this Agreement and acknowledge the PlayStation Privacy Policy on behalf of your child

accept all liability for their actions on the Services and compliance with these Terms

Qualifications & exceptions

• Applies when you are accepting on behalf of a child under 18.

Account & Service Control · Company practice

Breaking the terms can lead to suspending your console or Account, including Child Accounts

Breach of the terms by you, or by your child if you accepted for a child, may result in temporary or permanent suspension of your console or your Account, including any Child Accounts under it, and in loss of access or restricted access to the content associated with those accounts. Section 12 lets SIE restrict, suspend or terminate your Account and PlayStation Device, with or without notice, if you violate the Agreement or SIE has a reasonable belief that a violation has happened or will happen, or as otherwise may be reasonably necessary to protect users, partners, the platform or other SIE interests. A violation of separate Third-Party Terms (terms of third-party content or services reached through PlayStation Services) may also be deemed a violation of these Terms. The consequences of termination and suspension are explained in the Section 12 cards.

Supporting quotations

Breach of these Terms by you or your Child (if accepting these Terms on behalf of a child) may result in the temporary or permanent suspension of your console or your Account

loss of access, or restricted access, to the content associated with those Accounts

With or without notice, we may restrict, suspend or terminate your Account and PlayStation Device

if you violate this Agreement or we have a reasonable belief such a violation has or will occur

or as otherwise may be reasonably necessary to protect our users, our partners, our platform, or other SIE interests

Any violation by you of such Third-Party Terms may also be deemed a violation of these Terms.

Qualifications & exceptions

• SIE may act with or without notice.
• SIE may act on a reasonable belief that a violation has happened or will happen, not only on a proven violation.
• Third-Party Terms violations may be deemed violations of these Terms; the text says "may", not that every such violation is.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Account information must be accurate and complete, or SIE may restrict or end the Account

All information given when creating and using your Account must be accurate and complete. SIE reserves the right to suspend, terminate or restrict any Account (including as stated in Section 12.2) that uses or was created using false information, or that SIE determines was created or used for a purpose that violates the Agreement. Section 12.2 allows SIE to act with or without notice if you violate the Agreement or SIE reasonably believes a violation has or will occur, or as reasonably necessary to protect users, partners, the platform or other SIE interests.

Supporting quotations

All information provided during Account creation, and during the use of your Account, must be accurate and complete

We reserve the right to suspend, terminate or restrict any Account (including as stated in Section 12.2 of this Agreement) that uses or was created using false information, or that we determine was created or used for a purpose that violates this Agreement

With or without notice, we may restrict, suspend or terminate your Account and PlayStation Device

Qualifications & exceptions

• SIE decides whether an Account was created or used for a purpose that violates the Agreement ("that we determine").
• Under Section 12.2 SIE may act with or without notice.

Cross-references

• refers to (model-proposed): SIE can restrict, suspend or end your Account and device, with or without notice — Section 3.1 cites Section 12.2 for SIE's right to suspend, terminate or restrict an Account; the Section 12 card explains that right.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

You pick one country or region at sign-up and cannot change it later

During Account creation you must select the country or region where you live and where the Account will be registered. Once the Account is created, you will not be able to change the country or region code associated with it.

Supporting quotations

During Account creation you must select the country or region of your residence and in which your account will be registered in.

Once your account is created, you will not be able to change the country or region code associated with your account.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The text says you cannot change the country or region code once the Account is created; it names no exception.

Account & Service Control · Permission or license

SIE can refuse to create any Account for any reason

SIE has the right to deny the creation of any Account, for any reason, in its sole discretion.

Supporting quotations

SIE has the right to deny the creation of any Account, for any reason, in its sole discretion.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Discretion is SIE's alone and no reason is required.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

A parent or guardian must create a separate Child Account for each child, after setting up their own Account

If you are the parent or legal guardian of a child who will use PlayStation Services, you are responsible for creating a Child Account for them. With more than one child you need a separate Child Account for each one, and you must first set up an Account for yourself. A Child Account must meet certain age requirements; more information is said to be at a support web page that is not supplied here.

Supporting quotations

If you are the parent or legal guardian of a child who will access PlayStation Services, you are responsible for creating a Child Account for them.

If you have more than one child, you will need to create a separate Child Account for each one.

In order to create a Child Account, you will first need to set up an Account for yourself.

A Child Account must meet certain age requirements.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Each child needs their own Child Account.
• You need your own Account before you can create a Child Account.

Not stated here

• The age requirements for a Child Account are not stated in this text; they are referred to a support page that is not supplied.

Account & Service Control · Company practice

Parental Controls let you tailor a Child Account, but features vary by device and country

SIE says some content may be inappropriate for younger users and offers settings (Parental Controls) to tailor a Child Account's experience and activities to the child's age. Parental Controls also set other restrictions on the child's Account, including control of communication features and online accessibility. Which features and restriction settings exist differs based on the device used to access PlayStation and is subject to availability, including availability in the country where your Account is registered. Some content accessed on a PlayStation Device or via a tablet, cell phone or other device may be accessible by all users of that system or device, and Parental Controls on those devices may not apply to certain types of content.

Supporting quotations

Some content on PlayStation may be inappropriate for younger users.

We offer a variety of settings which you can use to tailor a Child Account

Parental Control features and restriction settings differ based on the device you use to access PlayStation, and are subject to availability, including availability in the country in which your Account is registered.

including control of communication features and online accessibility

Some content that you access on your PlayStation Device or via tablet, cell phone, or other device may be accessible by all users of that system or device, and Parental Controls on those devices may not apply to certain types of content.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Features differ by device and by availability, including by country.
• Parental Controls on some devices may not apply to certain content that is accessible by all users of that device.

Not stated here

• The text does not list which Parental Controls exist on each device; it points to a PlayStation Safety page that is not supplied.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Content restrictions only work on rated content, and ratings may come from third parties

Parental Controls may let you restrict a Child Account's access to certain rated game and video content using restrict-content settings. Not all content is rated, and Parental Controls may not apply to unrated content. In some cases third parties provide the content ratings or descriptions, and SIE says it cannot guarantee that information is accurate or complete.

Supporting quotations

Parental Controls may allow you to restrict a Child Account

access to certain rated game and video content by using restrict-content settings

not all content is rated, and Parental Controls may not apply to unrated content

In some cases, third parties provide the content ratings or descriptions for items, and we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of that information.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Restrict-content settings apply to rated game and video content.
• Unrated content may not be covered.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Parents and guardians are responsible for monitoring the child, explaining the terms and the child's account use

As the parent or legal guardian of a Child Account holder, you are responsible for monitoring your child's access to and use of PlayStation Services, and any communications they make or receive through them. You are also responsible for use of your Account by your children or others who may have access to your Account or PlayStation Device, and for explaining the Terms to your child (especially the Code of Conduct in Section 5) and making sure they understand how to behave. If your child violates the Terms, SIE may take moderation action against the Account, Child Account or console (Section 12). Under Section 12, SIE may restrict, suspend or terminate your Account and PlayStation Device with or without notice. If SIE lets Child Accounts stay open after your Account is terminated, you remain liable for all their acts and purchases until those Child Accounts are terminated.

Supporting quotations

you are responsible for monitoring your Child

as well as any communications made or received by your Child through PlayStation Services

You are also responsible for the use of your Account by your Children or others that may have access to your Account or PlayStation Device.

You are responsible for explaining these Terms to your Child, especially the Code of Conduct in Section 5

If your Child violates these Terms, we may take moderation action against the Account, Child Account, or console

With or without notice, we may restrict, suspend or terminate your Account and PlayStation Device

Generally, termination of a Family Manager Account

However, in some cases, we may permit your associated Child Accounts to remain open.

you will remain liable for all their acts and purchases until the Child Accounts are terminated

Qualifications & exceptions

• Liability after termination applies only where SIE chooses to let Child Accounts remain open; generally a Family Manager Account's termination ends associated Child Accounts.

Account & Service Control · Company practice

Code of Conduct violations can lead to moderation action and a report to law enforcement

Violations of the Code of Conduct may result in moderation action against your Account and PlayStation Devices. SIE may also notify law enforcement (or another appropriate government agency) if a breach involves a threat to the life or safety of you or others, or any other activity SIE believes to be unlawful. Section 12.6 lets SIE, if it determines you or your Child Accounts violated the Agreement (including the Code of Conduct), take any action it believes necessary, including automatic removal or blockage of associated content, permanent or temporary disablement of access to Content, PlayStation Devices, products, services or features, and notifying law enforcement.

Supporting quotations

Violations of our Code of Conduct may result in moderation action taken against your Account and PlayStation Devices

We may also notify law enforcement (or another appropriate government agency) if the breach involves a threat to the life or safety of yourself or others, or any other activity that we believe to be unlawful.

(a) the automatic removal or blockage of content associated with those Accounts

(c) the permanent or temporary disablement of access to any Content, PlayStation Devices, products, services or features

(d) notifying law enforcement or the appropriate authority

Qualifications & exceptions

• Law enforcement notification is tied to threats to life or safety or activity SIE believes to be unlawful.
• SIE makes the determination of a violation under Section 12.6.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Abusing or threatening SIE staff can cost you email contact or customer support

If you are rude to, or abuse or threaten, SIE's employees, agents or representatives, then in addition to any other actions SIE may take under the Agreement, it may restrict you from contacting it by email or refuse to provide you with any further consumer support.

Supporting quotations

If you are rude to, or abuse or threaten, our employees, agents, or representatives, in addition to any other actions we may take under this Agreement, we may restrict you from contacting us by email or refuse to provide you with any further consumer support.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Applies in addition to any other action SIE may take under the Agreement.

Account & Service Control · Permission or license

SIE can remove or hide your information and content and report illegal content to authorities

SIE reserves the right, at its discretion, to suppress, block, hide, remove or delete any User Information or UGC, and to report any illegal UGC and related User Information to the appropriate authorities.

Supporting quotations

We reserve the right to suppress, block, hide, remove, or delete any User Information or UGC at our discretion, and to report any illegal UGC and related User Information to the appropriate authorities.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Removal is at SIE's discretion; reporting is for illegal UGC and related User Information.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Cancelling a subscription can end access to its content, downloads and gameplay information

On cancellation of a subscription you cannot access the content or services provided with it except as SIE permits. Content you downloaded to a device that came through the subscription at no extra cost beyond the subscription price may not be accessible. Gameplay information, including trophies earned during a trial offer, promotional period or subscription term, may not be available. Subscriptions may also come with their own usage terms and/or privacy policy, which you are told to read before subscribing; more information about managing subscriptions is said to be on a support page that is not supplied.

Supporting quotations

Upon cancellation of a subscription, you will not be able to access content or services provided with your subscription except as permitted by us.

Content that you downloaded onto a device and that was provided to you through a subscription at no additional cost beyond the subscription price may not be accessible.

Gameplay information, including trophies earned during a trial offer, promotional period or subscription term may not be available.

Subscriptions may come with their own usage terms and/or privacy policy.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Access after cancellation exists only to the extent SIE permits.
• The text says downloaded content and gameplay information "may" be inaccessible or unavailable.

Not stated here

• The terms and privacy policy that individual subscriptions may carry are not supplied here.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Video Content is tied to the ordering Account and a limited set of activated devices

To download, stream or view Video Content, a supported Authorized Device must be properly activated by the Account that ordered it. Video Content is connected to the Account used to order it and cannot be transferred from one Account to another. Each Account can activate no more than the maximum number of Authorized Devices, and each Authorized Device can be activated for only a limited number of Accounts.

Supporting quotations

Proper activation of a supported Authorized Device by the Account that ordered the Video Content is required to download, stream, or view the content.

Video Content is connected to the Account used to order that content and cannot be transferred from one Account to another.

Each Account can activate no more than the maximum number of Authorized Devices, and each Authorized Device can only be activated for a limited number of Accounts.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Device and Account activation limits apply in both directions.

Not stated here

• The maximum number of Authorized Devices per Account and Accounts per device is not stated in this text.

Account & Service Control · User right or choice

You can close your Account at any time by contacting PlayStation Support

You may terminate your Account at any time by contacting PlayStation Support. SIE says the best way to request closure is through a support web address, and asks you to have your sign-in ID (email address), online ID and account security information ready. The effects of termination on your content, balances and refunds are explained in the termination effects card.

Supporting quotations

You may terminate your Account at any time by contacting PlayStation Support.

Please have the following information readily available: (a) Sign-in ID (email address); (b) online ID; and (c) account security information.

Qualifications & exceptions

• Closure is requested by contacting PlayStation Support.

Account & Service Control · Company practice

SIE can restrict, suspend or end your Account and device, with or without notice

With or without notice, SIE may restrict, suspend or terminate your Account and PlayStation Device, or indefinitely restrict, suspend or discontinue your access to or use of certain Content, offerings, features, products and services. The stated grounds are that you violate the Agreement, that SIE has a reasonable belief such a violation has or will occur, or that action is otherwise reasonably necessary to protect SIE's users, partners, platform or other interests. Other sections give related triggers: failing to provide identifying documentation SIE requests, and violations of the Code of Conduct, which can bring moderation action against your Account and devices.

Supporting quotations

With or without notice, we may restrict, suspend or terminate your Account and PlayStation Device

or indefinitely restrict, suspend or discontinue your access to or, or use of, certain Content, offerings, features, products

if you violate this Agreement or we have a reasonable belief such a violation has or will occur

or as otherwise may be reasonably necessary to protect our users, our partners, our platform, or other SIE interests

We reserve the right to suspend, terminate, or restrict your Account and PlayStation Device, and your participation in or access to offerings, functionality, or features, if you do not provide such documentation or information

Violations of our Code of Conduct may result in moderation action taken against your Account and PlayStation Devices

Qualifications & exceptions

• SIE may act with or without notice.
• SIE may act on a reasonable belief that a violation has happened or will happen.
• Protecting users, partners, the platform or "other SIE interests" is a stated ground in addition to violations.

Cross-references

• referred to by (model-proposed): Account information must be accurate and complete, or SIE may restrict or end the Account — Section 3.1 cites Section 12.2 for SIE's right to suspend, terminate or restrict an Account; the Section 12 card explains that right.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Termination is irreversible, ends access to your items and balances, and generally brings no refund

After your Account is terminated you cannot access the Services. Game rankings, scores, trophies, Virtual Items (including earned or purchased virtual currency balances), subscriptions and other information saved on or requiring connection to the Services will not be retained or accessible, and termination is irreversible. When your Account (or any associated Child Account) is terminated for any reason, you will not receive a refund for items (including subscriptions, virtual items and pre-paid products or services), value accumulated on in-game items, or any unused balance in your Wallet, except as required by law or as expressly provided in the Agreement.

Supporting quotations

After your Account is terminated, you will not be able to access our Services.

will not be retained or accessible

Account termination is irreversible.

YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE A REFUND FOR ITEMS (INCLUDING SUBSCRIPTIONS, VIRTUAL ITEMS, AND PRE-PAID PRODUCTS OR SERVICES), VALUE ACCUMULATED ON IN-GAME ITEMS OR ANY UNUSED BALANCE IN YOUR WALLET

EXCEPT AS REQUIRED BY LAW OR AS EXPRESSLY PROVIDED IN THIS AGREEMENT

includes any virtual currency, goods, or effects such as coins, points, tokens, gold, gems, weapons, vehicles, buffs, power-ups, trophies, rewards, or badges

Qualifications & exceptions

• The no-refund rule applies on termination for any reason, including termination of an associated Child Account.
• The no-refund rule has two stated exceptions: where the law requires and where the Agreement expressly provides.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

Ending a parent's Account generally ends Child Accounts; if they stay open, the parent stays liable

Generally, terminating a Family Manager Account (the Account of an adult who creates a Child Account) terminates any associated Child Accounts. In some cases SIE may allow associated Child Accounts to remain open; then you remain liable for all their acts and purchases until they are terminated. Parental Control settings applied before your Account's termination or suspension stay in place, and the Child Accounts can use the remaining funds in your Wallet subject to any limits set before your Account was terminated. You will not receive any correspondence from SIE about the Child Accounts' activities or purchases.

Supporting quotations

Generally, termination of a Family Manager Account (i.e., the Account of an adult who creates a Child Account) will result in the termination of any associated Child Accounts.

However, in some cases, we may permit your associated Child Accounts to remain open.

you will remain liable for all their acts and purchases until the Child Accounts are terminated

Parental Control settings placed on Child Accounts prior to the termination or suspension of your Account will remain in place

you will not receive any correspondence from us about the Child Accounts

Qualifications & exceptions

• Continuation of Child Accounts is something SIE "may" permit in some cases.
• Wallet use by remaining Child Accounts is subject to limits set before termination.

Account & Service Control · Restriction or exception

A suspended console cannot reach the Services with any Account, but offline disc games still work

If your PlayStation Device is suspended, you cannot use that console to access the Services with any Account, even a new one, to play games or game modes that need online access, or to access content purchased from the PlayStation Store. You can still play disc games that run on the console if they do not need to connect to the Services.

Supporting quotations

Upon suspension of your PlayStation Device, you will not be able to use that console to (a) access our Services with any Account (even if you create a new one); (b) play any games or game modes requiring online access; or (c) access any content purchased from the PlayStation Store.

You will still be able to play any disc games that run on your console, if they do not need to connect to our Services to run.

Qualifications & exceptions

• The restriction attaches to the console, not only to one Account.
• Offline disc games remain playable if they do not need to connect to the Services.

Account & Service Control · Permission or license

SIE may take any action it thinks necessary after it finds a violation, up to legal action

If SIE determines that you or any associated Child Account has violated the Agreement (including the Code of Conduct, the Usage Terms or any other incorporated terms), or that your actions have injured or damaged SIE or the PlayStation community, it reserves the right to take any action it believes necessary to remedy the violation or protect SIE's interests. The listed examples include automatic removal or blockage of content associated with those Accounts, upgrades or devices intended to discontinue unauthorized use, permanent or temporary disablement of access to Content, PlayStation Devices, products, services or features, notifying law enforcement or the appropriate authority, and initiating legal action.

Supporting quotations

If we determine that you or any of your associated Child Accounts have violated this Agreement (including the Code of Conduct, the Usage Terms, or any other incorporated terms), or that your actions have injured or damaged SIE or the PlayStation community

we reserve the right to take any action we believe necessary to remedy the violation or to protect SIE

(a) the automatic removal or blockage of content associated with those Accounts

(b) implementation of upgrades or devices intended to discontinue unauthorized use

(c) the permanent or temporary disablement of access to any Content, PlayStation Devices, products, services or features

(d) notifying law enforcement or the appropriate authority

(e) initiating legal action

Qualifications & exceptions

• SIE makes the determination that a violation or damage occurred.
• The actions are examples ("including"); SIE may take any action it believes necessary.

Account & Service Control · Permission or license

SIE can discontinue online access or features at any time and makes no server commitment

SIE may indefinitely suspend or discontinue online access to content or data associated with your Account at any time, including for service deprecations, maintenance services or upgrades, without notice or liability. It may also discontinue offering certain Content or features. For any Content that uses online servers, SIE makes no commitment to keep those servers available.

Supporting quotations

We may indefinitely suspend or discontinue online access to content or data associated with your Account at any time, including for service deprecations, maintenance services, or upgrades, without notice or liability.

We may also discontinue offering certain Content or features.

For any Content that uses online servers, we make no commitment to continue to make those servers available.

Qualifications & exceptions

• SIE may act at any time and without notice or liability.
• No commitment is made to continue online servers for Content that uses them.