PlayStation to allow PSN name changes ‘soon’

After over a decade of asking for it, PlayStation owners will soon be able to change their PSN ID, as Sony announced it will be rolling out the much-requested feature.

Cunningly entitled PSN Online ID Change, the feature will come to beta testers ‘soon’ and runs until the end of November 2018. Regular, non-beta, owners will have the feature unlocked early in 2019, all going to plan.

The feature will allow you to change your PSN name as many times as you want, but just like with Microsoft’s version it will be a case of the first one’s free – after that you have to pay. Prices come in at £7.99 for non PS Plus subscribers, or £3.99 per change for those subscribed to PS Plus.

As the blog post points out, though, the name change feature may well cause issues: “This feature is compatible with PS4 games originally published after 1st April 2018, and a large majority of the most played PS4 games that were released before this date. However, please note not all games and applications for PS4, PS3 and PS Vita systems are guaranteed to support the online ID change, and users may occasionally encounter issues or errors in certain games.”

If there are issues encountered, you’ll be able to revert to your old name for free – though no word if you’d get a refund following a second (or more) name change. Additionally you’ll be able to display your previous name along with your new one should you choose, so people won’t be confused – but this will be a one-shot choice – you either choose to do it on changing your name, or choose not to and lose the ability to have them shown together. So it’s… a unique system.