Many PS4 and PS5 owners are currently getting the np-34957-8 error on PSN, which is a code for server communication error. This bug has been officially acknowledged by Sony after the server maintenance. Before the issue gets resolved you can use our guide to try to fix the np-34957-8 error code on PSN.

This issue takes place whenever players try to link their accounts on PSN for multiplayer purposes. That's why you need to look specifically into this problem to be able to understand how to fix this error.

Re-Link Your Account

It is possible that after the PSN maintenance period some accounts haven't been linked properly. This means that you need to manually unlink your account, and then link it back again.

Follow these steps to re-link your PSN account:

1. Go to PSN main menu
2. Select "Settings" menu
3. Go to "Account Management" tab
4. Select "Link With Other Services" feature
5. Choose the account you want to re-link
6. Confirm the re-linking

Once this is done, check again, if you can link your accounts on PSN for co-operative gameplay.

Restart Your System

This means that you need to restart not only your console, but also your router:

1. Press and hold the PS button on your gamepad
2. Select "Power" option
3. Choose "Turn Off" option
4. Wait for five minutes and press the power button to switch it back on

You can do the same with your Wi-Fi router by turning it off and on after waiting for five minutes.

Wait for Official Resolution

If none of the above mentioned solutions helped your problem, then all you can do is wait before the PlayStation Network goes back up online on its own.

This may take some time, so be patient and see if it comes back up after a time.

That's all you need to know on how to fix np-34957-8 error code on PSN. If you found this article useful, then be sure to share it with your friends online!

According to a forum post on ResetEra (via PushSquare, which we first saw from Twitter user Mrpyo1), the trademark for PlayStation Home has been renewed by Sony through the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The trademark was renewed on April 26, 2021, and expires on October 1, 2028. 

A quick check of the EUIPO website confirms that the trademark, originally filed in 2008, has been extended. 

It's an interesting coincidence that the re-filing comes when it does. Though PlayStation Home has had a steadfast following throughout the years, the conversation around the virtual social platform within the greater gaming community has picked up in recent months.

IGN created a documentary earlier this year looking at "the fans who refuse to let PlayStation Home die." It's a fascinating deep dive into the PlayStation Home fanbase and those who have taken it upon themselves to keep it alive. Video Games Chronicle also recently highlighted how members of the PS Home community are using Media Molecule's Dreams to recreate the experience through a project called Dreams Central. 

The renewal of the PlayStation Home trademark is certain to create increased buzz around Home and rekindle hope for those rooting for the social hub's return. Right now, there's no confirmation from Sony that relaunching Home is the intention. Just as we don't yet know what Konami plans to do with the recent trademark renewals for Castlevania and Metal Gear Rising, if anything, it's unclear if Sony plans to bring PlayStation Home back on the PS5 or not. 

PlayStation Home was announced way back in 2007, before launching for the PlayStation 3 in 2008. It never made its way to PlayStation 4. After growing PS Home by adding a plethora of free and paid content, mini-games, and even trophies, Sony shuttered the space in 2015. It continued support through mid-November 2014, and allowed "users to download content until" early December that year, but ultimately pulled the plug on March 31, 2015. 

Stay tuned for more on PlayStation Home. Who knows, perhaps Sony will resurrect the social hub in light of the year that was 2020, where games like Fortnite, Sea of Thieves, Destiny 2, VRChat, FFXIV, Animal Crossing, and so many others provided people places to socialize and come together — exactly the kind of thing PlayStation Home was built for. 

[Sources: ResetEra, PushSquare, IGN, Mrpyo1, EUIPO, VGC]

Earlier today, multiple outlets reported that Sony may be looking to add a video component to its premium online service, PlayStation Plus, that would give subscribers access to movies and television shows. A logo and description of the possible addition to PS Plus were first spotted by Video Games Chronicle. 

As of this writing, Sony has not yet commented on the existence of the service, so there's nothing official just yet. However, VGC said that the logo was found "on Sony's official website," and the Sony Poland website advertised the potential service as: 

A new benefit available for a limited time on PlayStation Plus… PS Plus Video Pass is a trial service active 22.04.21 – 22.04.22. The subscription benefit is available to PS Plus users in Poland.

The wording of the description could mean that Sony is looking to test the service in certain markets ahead of a full launch sometime later. As pointed out by VGC and elsewhere, it's unclear if other regions outside of Poland would have access to the trial at the same time or what, if any, other markets have been chosen for the trial. 

The movies teased by the Poland website advertisement include Venom (2018), Zombieland Double Tap (2019), and Bloodshot (2020). As with the rest of the potential PlayStation Plus Video Pass Service, there are a lot of unknowns here, such as if these are the only movies available in the possible trial or if other films and/or TV shows may be included. 

Others have pointed out that these are all Columbia Pictures films, as well, a subsidiary of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group. 

Since PlayStation Plus launched through PlayStation Network in 2010, it's been entirely focused on providing subscribers premium features in and around gaming. The service provides a number of benefits, including a selection of complimentary games monthly. Since the launch of the PlayStation 5 in November 2020, the service now includes at least three gratis games each month: two PS4 games and one PS5 game.

Alongside the launch of the PlayStation 5, PS Plus subscribers who adopted the platform also have access to the PlayStation Plus Collection, a small, if relatively substantial, catalog of some of the PS4's more recent greatest hits, including Resident Evil 7, God of War, Persona 5, The Last Guardian, and Uncharted 4: A Thiefs End. 

While Sony hasn't yet taken Microsoft's lead and made any games available as Day-One additions to PlayStation Plus (and ostensibly, it's a service that provides a slightly different value proposition than Game Pass), adding film and television shows could bolster the value of PS Plus, which currently costs $9.99 per month or $59.99 per year. 

[Header image and copy image source: VGC]

Sony has reversed their decision to close the PS3 and PS Vita stores this summer, but the PSP store will still officially shut down as scheduled. The news comes straight from SIE President and CEO Jim Ryan through a post on the PlayStation Blog. 

Ryan referenced fan feedback regarding the initial news to close the digital stores last month. 

"It’s clear that we made the wrong decision here," Ryan said. "So today I’m happy to say that we will be keeping the PlayStation Store operational for PS3 and PS Vita devices. PSP commerce functionality will retire on July 2, 2021, as planned."

This is a very welcome reversal for all Sony fans and keeping these games readily available. Since the first announcement of the stores closing, fans have actively voiced their disappointment on social media and grabbed up PS3, Vita, and PSP games before they disappeared (here's a list of great indies to get even in light of this news). 

Though the loss of the PSP store still looms, acting as the death knell for the portable, at the very least, there is still a small PSP library available through the PS Vita and PS3 stores. 

Ryan shed further light on the decision to reverse the store closures and said that other PlayStation products, at least in the eyes of Sony, required greater attention that could be reallocated from the PS3, Vita, and PSP. 

When we initially came to the decision to end purchasing support for PS3 and PS Vita, it was born out of a number of factors, including commerce support challenges for older devices and the ability for us to focus more of our resources on newer devices where a majority of our gamers are playing on.

We see now that many of you are incredibly passionate about being able to continue purchasing classic games on PS3 and PS Vita for the foreseeable future, so I’m glad we were able to find a solution to continue operations."

It's nice to know that Sony is listening to its fanbase, though it is still troubling that these closures were possibilities in the first place. Rather than continue to live with the worry that these stores will disappear, it's clear that Sony needs a grander backwards compatibility solution, just as they do with PS Now. 

It wouldn't be Halloween without a PlayStation Store sale, and Sony's got plenty of treats from now until November 3. The Halloween sale runs the gamut from horror games and scary stuff such as Resident Evil and Darkest Dungeon to games anyone can enjoy, including Spyro Reignited Trilogy and Sayonara Wild Hearts.

Sony has over 125 games on sale, and here's a sampling of just a few of the spooktacular deals on offer.

The PS Store Halloween sale runs through November 3 at 11:59 p.m. Meanwhile, PS Plus members can get their hands on two excellent games for absolutely free before the end of October.

Sony pushed out the latest PS4 update (8.00) on October 14, which adds in new avatars, party options, parental controls, and enhanced two-step verification. It also removes event and private community creation and makes changes to the remote play app.

But not everything's going so smoothly. The PS4 8.00 update seems to be causing a number of PSN errors. Here's what they mean and how some users are getting around them until Sony releases an official fix (which they say they're currently working on). 

PSN Error WS-44369-6

Error WS-44369-6 relates to online interactions with friends and is keeping folks from forming parties. Some of the users that have run into this error have reported it just resolved itself after a few hours.

Others found you can work around error WS-44369-6 by:

• viewing a friend's profile
• creating a party
• playing as usual

You may also be able to search for a friend's PSN ID and add them manually to a party. The system still throws up the error code, but apparently still allows online play. Again, note these solutions aren't working for everyone.

PSN Error WS-36770-3

Error WS-36770-3 shows your profile status as offline, even when you aren't offline, and it accompanied the PS4 7.5 update as well.

A few Redditors found success by rebuilding the PS4's database, while others resolved the issue by going to "account management" and choosing "restore licenses."

While the best bet is likely waiting for Sony to fix the problems, these are worth trying if you're impatient.

PSN Error WS-37505-0

Error WS-37505-0 is a network connection error that pops up when your network connection is faulty or a game's server is experiencing issues. With the PS4 8.00 update issues, though, it's not clear what the problem is.

There's no workaround for this one, so you'll have to wait or just keep trying.

Hopefully, Sony fixes these issues soon. We'll revise this article with more information as it becomes available, so stay tuned to GameSkinny for more PS4 update news as it develops.

PlayStation trophies have been around since the PS3. Over the past 12 years, the digital accolades have become part and parcel of the PlayStation ecosystem, with entire websites cropping up to keep track of trophy leaderboards. Other sites, such as PlayStationTrophies.org, have carved a niche by providing in-depth trophy guides and roadmaps for hunters going after every platinum. 

To say Sony's answer to Microsoft's achievement system has been a success would be an understatement. 

Sony has made changes to the trophy system in some small but important ways heading into the next generation of systems. Announcing the news on the PlayStation Blog, Toshimasa Aoki, SIE's Director of Product Management, said new trophy levels and icons were inbound. The changes started rolling out on October 7. 

Sony has also implemented a new way to calculate a player's trophy level. Before, trophy levels were on a 100-point scale. The new scale goes from 1-999. 

According to Aoki: 

Following this update, your trophy level will automatically be remapped to a new level within this new range based on the trophies you've earned to date.

For example, if your current trophy level is 12, your new level will jump to somewhere in the low 200s. 

New trophy levels have been split into four overarching levels, with the first three of those having three sublevels. The fourth is reserved for those that reach trophy level 999. Each sublevel also has a distinctive badge attached to it, as seen in the image above. 

• Bronze Level
  • 1-99
  • 100-199
  • 200-299
• Silver Level
  • 300-399
  • 400-499
  • 500-599
• Gold Level
  • 600-699
  • 700-799
  • 800-998
• Platinum Level
  • 999

Trophies and levels will, of course, carry over from the PS4 to the PS5, just as they did from the PS3 to the PS4. Sony is making sure that legacy trophies still count to a player's overall score. 

The same post on the French PlayStation Blog originally contained information regarding trophy tracking for some games, as pointed out by Twitter user Nibellion. That information has since been removed from the blog post, but some have replied to Nibellion's post showing (unverified) emails from PlayStation touting the feature. 

Trophy tracking would be a welcome addition to the trophy system, though until Sony officially announces its existence, trophy hunters shouldn't get their hopes up.

With a little more than a month left until the launch of the PS5, Sony is still releasing information about its next-gen system, including a recent hardware teardown that looked at various features, including the fan and stand.

We still don't know what the PlayStation 5's UI looks like, so perhaps more information on trophies will be shared alongside that info in the coming weeks through one last showcase. 

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more on PlayStation, including a slew of reviews for PS5 launch titles like Demon's Souls and Spider-Man: Miles Morales. 

[Source: PlayStation Blog, Twitter]

Most of us are stuck inside right now thanks to the coronavirus. There's a smattering of free games you can play, but if you want to snag deals on some hot PlayStation 4 titles, Sony's got you covered, too. The PlayStation Store's Mega March Sale is live now until March 31.

There are some pretty sweet deals on offer here, with steep discounts on the likes of The Witcher 3, Monster Hunter World, Pillars of Eternity 2, and a whole lot more.

Here are some highlights.

PS Store's Mega March Sale

There's pretty much something for everyone, whether you're looking for a deep single-player experience or a way to share with others. Check out everything the Mega March Sale has to offer on the PlayStation Store website, and stay tuned to GameSkinny for more video game sale news as it develops.

It's the weekend again, and GameSkinny's Weekend Download is back. 

Here's most of everything we published this week in one easy to digest roundup, including news regarding Nepal's criminalization of PUBG; the release of Weedcraft Inc; Nintendo teasing new Smash stuffs, PSN IDs finally changing, and much, much more. 

As usual, we've added links in case you find a headline that tickles your fancy and want to read more. We've also broken things down by category to make it easy to find what you're looking for. And finally, we've left out posts that are now meaningless because the event or sale has already ended. 

Sit back. Relax. Enjoy.  

• Nepal Makes Playing PUBG a Crime, But Is It Just a Scapegoat for a Larger Problem?
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• Nintendo Quietly Teases Stage Builder for Smash Bros. Ultimate
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• PSN Online ID Change Rolls Out for All PS4 Owners Today
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• Inside Xbox Coming April 16, Promises Rage 2, Pre-E3 News, and More
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• CD Projekt Red Hiring Release Manager for GWENT, Cyberpunk 2077
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• Sniper Elite V2 Remastered Shoots For May Release
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• Resident Evil 2 All Rewards Unlock DLC Now Available
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• Overwatch's Storm Rising Event Will Run April 16 to May 6
  Overwatch's newest event picks up the fight against Doomfist, and it may be time for a new character to join the ranks. Read more. 
  
  
• Surviving Mars: Green Planet Expansion Announced, Brings Terraforming
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• NISA Bringing Utawarerumono: Zan to PlayStation 4 Fall 2019
  Zan is an action RPG re-imagining of Mask of Deception and will feature 12 playable heroes from the Utawarerumono universe, along with multiplayer and fully animated cutscenes. Read more. 
  
  
• PlayStation 4 to Support Disney+ Streaming Service Starting November 12
  The Disney investors' livestream provided information about new Disney+ exclusives, offline viewing, and game consoles that could support Disney+ in the future. Read more. 
  
  
• New Video Game Streaming Platform Hopes to Make Retro Accessible
  Antstream will offer a subscription-based service with a curated selection of several hundred games and is expected to launch this summer. Read more. 
  
  
• Lightstream Expands Streaming Services, Acquires GameWisp Monetization Platform
  Lightstream continues to expand its services with the acquisition of GameWisp, offering streamers new ways to monetize their streams and reward viewers. Read more. 

• Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain Review — Polishing Out the Absurdity
  Earth Defense Force: Iron Rain is an interesting side entry with new mechanics and a new look. It's just too bad there's something missing from the formula to make it truly great. Read more. 
  
  
• Weedcraft Inc Review: Familiar But Robust Foray into the Weed Business Sim Genre
  Weedcraft Inc doesn't do anything amazing, but it's your best bet if you want to grow and sell weed in a video game. Read more. 
  
  
• CryoFall Early Access Impressions: We've Played This Game Before, Many Times
  You've already played this survival sim about a hundred times before, but hey, now it's in 2D with a slightly revamped skill system, so that makes it different...right? Read more. 
  
  
• Vaporum Review: Not Quite BioShock or Grimrock
  Vaporum is a throwback to an old-school genre, but it doesn't bring about a renaissance for the grid-based dungeon crawler on console. Read more. 
  

• Why the School Setting is Perfect for Trails of Cold Steel
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• What's Happening with Local Multiplayer?
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Sony's Social Media Director Sid Shuman has announced that the long-awaited option to change PSN Online IDs is now live. The option is available for all PlayStation 4 owners, not just PlayStation Plus members.

The news came in a PlayStation blog post today, along with an overview of the process and some answers to anticipated questions.

The ID change feature was previously tested with PS Plus members, and a number of bugs were discovered during the testing period. Although that period seems to be over, it also seems as if those bugs are still present as well.

When the ID change option was first unveiled, Sony said all games published after April 1, 2018, would support the feature. That turned out not to be true during the test period, and Shuman said there are still some games that might not recognize ID changes, simply because of how the feature is incorporated at the system level.

That said, the majority of PS4 games will support the feature, and there's a list of games tested with the feature as well.

Other issues encountered during the test period included lost save and trophy data, issues with parts of an application not functioning during online or offline play, and times when the old ID would still appear.

A list of games where minor issues — old IDs showing, problems with sound, and unlinked PSN accounts — may be found here.

There are fewer games that encountered critical issues, including data and in-game currency loss, and those can be found here.

The first change is free for all users. All changes after that will incur a charge, though. It will cost $9.99 for one name change for regular users, or $4.99 for PS Plus members.

Should players encounter trouble with their new ID or wish to revert back to their old ID, they can do so for free by contacting PlayStation Support.

How to Change PSN Online ID

There are two methods for changing your PSN Online ID, via the PlayStation 4 itself or through a web browser.

PlayStation 4:

• Step 1: From your PS4 go to [Settings].
• Step 2: Select [Account Management] > [Account Information] > [Profile] > [Online ID].
• Step 3: Enter an Online ID of your choice or choose from one of the suggestions.
• Step 4: Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the change.

Web browser:

• Step 1: Sign in to your PlayStation Network account and select PSN Profile in the menu.
• Step 2: Select the Edit button that’s next to your Online ID.
• Step 3: Enter an Online ID of your choice or choose from one of the suggestions.
• Step 4: Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the change.

---

Regardless of the problems that remain with the feature, it can't be denied Sony is making quite a few changes this year, from skipping E3, to centralizing distribution of digital goods. The company has even implemented a Nintendo-style direct-to-consumer presentation series with a host of new VR games.

Sony released the PlayStation 4's latest firmware update today, but it doesn't introduce anything significant. Most notably, it lacks the long-awaited option to change PSN online IDs.

The patch notes for the update, which can be found here, are minuscule and reminiscent of Nintendo's regular balance and performance updates: "This system software update improves system performance."

What exactly it improves, Sony doesn't say. However, the download for 6.51 takes up 463MB, so it seems to be an important patch, even if it isn't a clear one. What stands out about the lack of clear detail or intent for this patch is how much more substantial the previous update, 6.50 was.

Regardless of what it does fix, the update doesn't deliver on Sony's promise of introducing the option to change PSN online IDs sometime early this year.

Sony did test a beta of the option last year for PlayStation Preview Program members that's still ongoing. Yet it was full of bugs and potentially serious issues. One ResetEra user posted the cautions given to beta users after the program was rolled out:

If you change your Online ID

• You may lose access to content (including paid-for content) that you have acquired for your games, including content like add-ons and virtual currency.

• You may lose your progress within games, including game saved data, leaderboard data and progress toward trophies.

• Parts of your games and applications might not function properly, both online and offline.

• Your previous Online ID(s) may remain visible to you and other players in some places.

Many users did experience problems with lost progress and deleted DLC, which might be why Sony has yet to fully roll the option out.

Whenever it does make its way to all PSN members, the first name change will be free, but subsequent name changes will cost $5 each for PlayStation Plus subscribers and $10 for everyone else.

Sony has had an interesting and mixed year already. On the one hand, the company is making some intriguing and potentially positive changes, such as skipping E3 and implementing its own methods of delivering news to its fans. Yet at the same time, it's also tightening control over how games are distributed and remaining silent about things fans want to know.

Sony confirmed recent rumors that consumers will no longer be able to purchase digital PS4 or PlayStation Vita games at retail locations beginning April 1. Instead, digital copies can only be purchased directly through the PlayStation Network store online or via the PlayStation 4 or Vita storefronts.

The confirmation comes a few days after rumors started. The message was first sent to retailers like GameStop, but today, Sony released an official statement announcing the change:

We can confirm that as of April 1, 2019, Sony Interactive Entertainment will no longer offer full games through SIE's Global Digital at Retail program. This decision was made in order to continue to align key businesses globally. To support full games and premium editions, SIE will introduce increased denominations at select retailers. DLC, add-ons, virtual currency, and season passes will still be available.

This means a few different things. The repercussion that might affect most people is that trade-in credit at places like GameStop and Amazon can no longer be used to fund purchases of full digital games. The same applies to gift cards.

However, consumers can still purchase DLC, add-ons, and in-game money, along with season passes and PSN cards, through retailers. Credit or gift cards could, thus, still be used. Sony said it would ensure a wider variety of PSN card values would be introduced to help make up the difference between the values currently available and the cost of games.

In short, it's not as big a change for consumers as it might first appear, essentially only requiring an extra step if one wishes to buy a game or currency from a retailer still.

What the "business alignment" might be remains something of a mystery outside the more apparent benefit of increased profit for Sony by cutting out the middleman.

The company has been making big changes this year already, from skipping E3 to introducing a Nintendo Direct-style presentation to announce new games. Its ultimate vision is still unknown, but this move seems to be yet another small step towards realizing whatever goals Sony has for the future.

Recently, there were rumblings that you might soon be able to change your PSN name. Today, we've found out that will actually (finally) be the case. 

Announced by PlayStation Social Media Director, Sid Shuman, PSN name changes will soon be made available -- for a fee. Before this feature is released to the general PlayStation public, however, it will be beta tested by select users who have signed up for previous PS4 system software betas. 

The beta will end at the end of November, and it will allow users to change their username as many times as they like. The first change will be free, but subsequent changes will cost $9.99, with PS Plus members paying only $4.99.

Upon changing your username, you will be given a choice as to whether or not you wish to display your old name alongside your new one, so as not to confuse friends of your identity. Once the choice to display your old name is decided, it cannot be undone. 

This feature will be supported by all games released after April 1, 2018. A list of compatible games released before this date will be made available upon the public launch in early 2019. Some games may not be compatible with the ID change, which may result in errors when playing online. Any errors can be undone by reverting to your original username for free. 

No word yet on when the beta will launch, but given its end of November wrap date, it shouldn't be much longer.

If you've even remotely paid attention to anything PlayStation over the past 12 years, you might have heard a few complaints about PlayStation Network names -- and how users still can't change them more than a decade after PSN first went live. 

However, according to a report from Kotaku, that may very well change in the (nebulous) future.

Although there is currently no firm date on when the alleged changes might go into effect, anonymous sources have told Kotaku that they have been working on the change by "fixing bugs, tweaking settings, and ensuring that their games are compatible with Sony’s plans." 

If true, you can bet that PlayStation gamers the world over will breathe a collective sigh of "about time". 

As Kotaku and its sources also point out, it does appear that the fix isn't just a flip of the switch. But since PlayStation gamers have been asking for this for a long, long time, it's good to hear that Sony is potentially making some movement on the issue, especially with Microsoft, Nintendo, and Valve providing the functionality on their platforms. 

Recently, Sony took a U-turn on crossplay, so anything is possible. At this point, we'll just have to wait and see. 

Stay tuned for new and info on the PlayStation Network and all things Sony as they develop.  

Another month has gone by, and for Playstation Plus subscribers, that means another batch of free games fresh out of the PSN library. 

On the PS4, gamers will be able to download Killing Floor 2 and Life is Strange, while on PS3, Abyss Odyssey and WRC 5: World Rally Championship will be available. 

On PlayStation Vita, players will have access to Neon Chrome and Spy Chameleon. Both PS Vita games are crossbuy with PlayStation 4 and can be claimed and played on PS4 for free as well.

Don't forget to download last month's PS Plus free games. And remember, if you don't want a free game now, you can just add it to your library without downloading it. 

Killing Floor 2 is a co-op first-person shooter in which you and up to seven other players are tasked with surviving and killing waves upon waves of zombies, leading up to a boss in each level. 

Life is Strange is a Telltale-esque third-person story-driven game in which you follow Max, a student photographer, who discovers she has the power to rewind time. This five-part episodic adventure follows Max through twists and turns as she tries to prevent her home town from being destroyed.

Stay tuned to GameSkinny for more news on PlayStation 4 and PSN. 

In a bold, yet unsurprisingly decisive move from Valve, the distributor has decided that image isn't everything. The team behind the world's biggest digital gaming storefront has recently introduced a page that aggregates the number of Steam support requests they receive and work on each day. And a lot of fans are making a hubbub about it. 

This seems like a small gesture that’s being blown out of proportion, right? You’re probably telling yourself: “Well, of course, Valve has plenty of help tickets to sort out... so what’s the big deal about this page?”

That's a fair assessment, but there’s actually plenty of fuss to make about a company that’s making an active attempt to demonstrate accountability and generate transparency between it and its user base.

Let's Clarify What Valve is Really Doing Here

The digital distributor is not only breaking down statistics to show exactly how many tickets the Steam team receives at any given time, but it's also coming clean with how many they’re able to get done — allowing Steam users to see what the work volume from both sides of the spectrum.

It’s a concept that seems a bit out of place — and rightfully so. Despite the advancements that have been made in regards to the convenience of digital consumerism, the powers that be have never given customers this much information about what's going on behind the scenes. How hard they're really working to take care of the gamers that keep their businesses alive often goes unnoticed. 

In short, Valve is being more transparent with its Steam users than any other top dog in the industry right now. And that's great news for us.

This is especially true when you look specifically at refund requests. Gaming is an expensive hobby, so gamers like to educate themselves about prospective purchases before actually spending their hard-earned cash. Where we'd normally have to rely on reviews and community sentiment to help us make those decisions, Valve is giving us new insight that will keep us even more informed. Seeing how many refund requests come through for a specific game is powerful information that can really tell gamers whether they'll be getting their money's worth—and that's a rare thing in an industry that seems to be more money-grubbing than ever before.

Distributors, Take Note — This Is How a Digital Marketplace Should Be Run

Is there a chance that releasing this information could negatively affect Steam's profit margins in the long run? Certainly. But the risks involved are well worth it for the good will it's going to create between sellers and buyers. And there are many other companies that should follow suit.

Nintendo is a prime example here. The Big N's digital distribution practices have been lacking in a number of ways for quite some time. Its current eShop platforms don't offer any sort of account management system that allows for transfers or back-up copies of games. And there's a complete lack of curation that causes plenty of great games to go largely unnoticed, especially if they don't have the marketing budget or promotional help from Nintendo. To summarize, buyers in the eShop aren't privy to the user feedback that's been central to Steam's store pages. The community is inconsequential, and the buyers within it are suffering for that. 

To summarize, buyers in the eShop aren't privy to the user feedback that's been central to Steam's store pages. The community is inconsequential, and the buyers within it are suffering for that. 

I'm not saying Nintendo should (or would) implement something as transparent (and possibly profit-damaging) as Valve's refund request tracking. But at the very least, a download count or something similar would be a nice start, just so players can see how other players are reacting to a particular game. The eShop could even take some cues from the now-defunct Miiverse and put a thread on each store page that would allow users to engage in positive or negative discussion about the games being sold. 

Doing so could cultivate a connection and a level of transparency between Nintendo and its eShop users that has never existed before.

But let's not throw all the shade at Nintendo. As iconic as the company is, it's still relatively new to this whole digital distribution thing. So let's turn our keen consumerist eyes toward the other two giants in digital distribution — Microsoft and Sony. 

Console Storefronts Need a Transparency Facelift, Too

Both Microsoft and Sony currently offer premium memberships that give their players access to a number of online multiplayer games and exclusive sales. And while both PlayStation Plus and Xbox Gold are novel services, neither of them has done much to serve the consumer as best they can. 

Plus and Gold memberships have so much potential to be something more, like a guaranteed access to Tier 2 technical support for anything that goes wrong with the operation of your system, for example. Hell, even give exclusive access to a backlog of games that can be digitally streamed is something that we could all get behind shelling out a few extra bucks for — at least something more than what we already have and is included in the membership. 

One of the more glaring omissions between Steam and these two console storefronts is the lack of curation between users, and the ability to communicate feedback on a product or service for other users to consult with.

Sure, you could say that the community groups that Sony and Microsoft offer are a step in the right direction, but what about something like Green Light? Or games getting their own store pages where players can participate in specific congress of the title and the various topics associated with them?

The liberties that Valve grants you when it comes to expressing your thoughts in these forums is another benefit that we won't see from the other two storefronts. And it isn't due to a lack of moderation by Valve, either — they're fully aware of what they're granting.

Sony and Microsoft are much too busy shifting between the roles of publicist and spin-doctor to even consider those options; These two companies believe that they only way they can succeed is to control as much player influence as they can in order to keep the consumer from getting none the savvier. 

The line is undoubtedly drawn somewhere, and I’m fully aware that the inmates can’t be asked to run the asylum, but the step that Valve has taken has given us some food for thought that we should all chew on. From Nintendo to Microsoft to Sony, a little more transparency into statistics like concurrent players, refunds, and workflows -- and even community engagement with native forums -- would be a welcomed change. 

It's that time again, Sony has updated their selection of free games available to PlayStation Plus members. This month features six games including a multiplayer physics-based puzzler, a space combat RPG, an open world action-adventure beat 'em up and karaoke simulator, two rhythm games, and a retro action arcade twin-stick shooter. Interestingly, there has been a bit of controversy surrounding the selection of one title in particular.

Retro/Grade, a 2012 music rhythm game by 24 Caret Games, is coming under scrutiny particularly in the European market for having previously been featured on the PlayStation Plus free game list once before. Online Content Producer for SCEE, Rhys Sutheran, commented on the controversy, stating:

"We’re keenly aware that you’ve had a lot to say regarding PS Plus this month – we’ve read all the comments and have passed your feedback directly to the PS Plus team."

No additional information has been given as to what action -- if any -- will be taken regarding this. As for the other titles in this month's offering, the current selection for PlayStation Plus can be seen below.

PlayStation 3 Titles

• Retro/Grade
• Ultratron
• Yakuza 5

PlayStation 4 Titles

• Rebel Galaxy
• Tricky Towers
• Ultratron

PlayStation Vita Titles

• Patapon 3
• Ultratron

Are you a member of PlayStation Plus or are you considering becoming a member? You can pick up any of these titles for free, or sign up for a PlayStation Plus membership, by accessing the PlayStation Store either on your favorite Sony console or through your browser here. These titles will remain available until being rotated out for a new selection in early September.

After much deliberation regarding the PlayStation 4 setup and its networking features, here is a straightforward number of problems with the current setup. This encompasses everything regarding the PlayStation 4 -- so that includes the system, its peripherals, and anything featured on the PlayStation Network. Anything mentioned will feature an explanation as to why I believe these are problems.

OK, let's go:

6. The Controller's Battery Life

(Ah, nuts, it's gonna need charging soon)

The PS4 controller is impressive in many ways. Looking at everything contained within one package it's fairly draining (pun intended) -- almost overwhelming. Delve into it and you'll notice a light with multiple colors available with different brightness settings also available. Another feature is multiple rumble motors, providing the essential vibration your hands need for feedback purposes. There's also a speaker with different volume settings available allowing a different audible source other than your TV/monitor. Finally, there's naturally that square black touchpad, allowing players a different input method.

Naturally, all of this consumes battery life, and it's startling just how quickly the battery's indicator changes from full to flashing (indicating it's about to run out). Sure, there's absolutely no question players have control of several options regarding their controller's battery consumption (vibration toggle, light intensity, speaker volume), but even with all that, the battery life is still rather dismal -- around 8 hours.

Simply, what the PlayStation 4 controller requires is a larger battery -- perhaps twice the size of the current one; that would essentially mean twice the longevity, allowing around 16 hours, which is roughly one charge every few days on average.

5. The Controller's Touchpad

(Redundant?)

The touchpad could be considered something more useful in hindsight than practicality. It feels too small, easily allowing fingers to run off during gameplay, and it's remarkably easy to accidentally catch it when attempting something entirely different. Typing a message, for example, can be quite troublesome if the touchpad is accidentally caught. Then, you've got no choice but to remember how to select the regular method of typing on the controller.

4. The Cost of the Controllers

(Too expensive?)

As detailed in a different section, the PlayStation 4 controller is impressive, but that naturally comes at a cost. Yes, controllers are simply too expensive, even if prices have fallen slightly recently. Currently, controllers are around £40 in the UK -- the equivalent of $60 in the US. Certain colors are puzzlingly more expensive, which frankly makes absolutely no sense.

Essentially what controllers need, if the retail cost reflects the components available within the controller, is perhaps some to be optional extras. As detailed in the above section, the touchpad could certainly be removed, as it's realistically not very useful. That could save £5 - £10 and even reduce power consumption.

3. Internet Needed to View Own Trophies

(Where did they go when offline?)

This is something I recently noticed due to the internet being cut off where I previously lived, and it was a puzzling experience. If it's possible to run both digital and physical copies of video games offline, why can't players view their own trophies offline? Because, realistically, not everyone wants to be connected to the internet constantly -- sometimes the world desires a break from socializing and big brother. And furthermore, if your owned games are played offline, the trophy information you unlocked will be completely unavailable. This needs to change.

2. PlayStation Plus

(Worth it? As good as Xbox Live Gold?)

PlayStation Plus was Sony's answer to Xbox Live, and it's fairly similar -- clearly Sony was attempting to attain more of the market share and draw even within that aspect. However, like many previous Xbox 360 users, I bought a PS4 on the premise that paying for online subscriptions was not necessary for this console. How wrong I was. While it could be considered paying £40 a year ($60) is reasonable, it still seems utterly bemusing as to why paying for online subscriptions is necessary at all simply to play video games with friends.

Then there's the distinct lack of value for money within the available titles the service offers monthly -- again copying from Xbox Live's service with Games with Gold. Many available games aren't impressive AAA franchises; often they're simply spin-offs or relatively successful indie games. The cherry-on-the-top of this unfortunate biscuit is the fact the games are only available while members are consistent PS Plus members. So, they want players to continue to subscribe indefinitely, which frankly doesn't seem worth it.

1. PlayStation Now

(Who thought PlayStation Now was a good idea? Him probably.)

Apparently, because the PS4's system is completely different than the PS3's, backward compatibility isn't feasible -- even digital games are apparently unable to function. This has allowed the creation of something completely different in the realm of videos games; a streaming service where games can be rented. There's a membership required, which is eerily similar to PlayStation Plus, yet significantly more expensive -- 3 months will cost around the amount of a year's subscription to PS Plus.

It's not particularly difficult to notice the similarities with Netflix with this service, and frankly, it feels like a replica. While it could be seen Sony were smart with this approach because of Netflix's obvious popularity, this is rather exorbitant. It's exorbitant precisely because many of the previous generation didn't own PS3s and therefore cannot lend games from their friends (who did) for this platform -- a platform which absolutely should have proper backward compatibility.

With the Xbox One's recent inclusion of backward compatibility, it's somewhat surprising Sony hasn't attempted to rectify the situation with real backward compatibility and inevitably it will hurt them in the future. While that could be considered a tactical move by Microsoft, it's nonetheless wonderful for Xbox One owners to be able to play all the classics without having to buy them again. That really should be possible for the PS4, but unfortunately all there is an expensive Netflix for PS4.

There we have it. They were six things wrong with the PS4's current setup.

Can you think of any others, or add anything to the issues I've mentioned? You're very welcome to in the comments!

PlayStation announced that tomorrow they will be adding 50 new games to PlayStation Now. With the addition of these games, the PlayStation Now subscription service will have more than 400 games total in its catalog.

Among the 50 new games added are: Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, The Darkness II, Spec Ops: The Line, and Duke Nukem Forever.

PlayStation now is a cloud gaming service, so you don’t need hard drive space to play its games. But, what if you did? How much hard drive space would you need for these new games?

The average PS4 only has a 500GB hard drive. And, according to ExtremeTech, the average PS4 game download is 13.08GB. Which means if you wanted to download all 50 of these new games, it would take 654GB of space!

But, what if you wanted to play more? With PlayStation Now having more than 400 games in their line-up, it would take 5,232GB on average to download them all. That means you would need a portable hard drive of over 5TB connected to your PlayStation!

But, you can stream PlayStation Now games, so you can have them all -- and for less money at that. Starting tomorrow, PlayStation Now is offering 33% off the 3-month subscription service. This drops the price for a 3-month subscription to $29.99, from the normal price of $44.99.

This discount will be available until July 11, 2016. During the promotion, the discount only applies to the first 3-month subscription purchased.

Be ready to play over 400 games in the PlayStation Store. Including these 2K titles: Borderlands, Borderlands 2, BioShock, BioShock 2, BioShock Infinite, XCOM: Enemy Within, and NBA 2K14.

PlayStation network’s original series, Powers, is returning for Season Two at the end of this month. The show is using what should prove to be a gripping plot line: solving the “Who Killed Retro Girl?” mystery from the Powers comics. The show's new trailer promises plenty of action and emotion for fans of intense programming. However, even a cursory glance at the trailer or promotional photo on PlayStation’s page will make obvious the show’s startling, major problem: the unnecessary and degrading sexualization of its female characters.

In the poster, every female character is showing more skin than any male character. But Deena, Calista, and Pilgrim need not expose their midriffs, cleavage, or wear suits with body-showcasing cutouts in order to be successful at their jobs.

There's a clip in Season Two’s trailer where Calista rips open her cape to reveal her superhero garb. While it could have been a cool move, the shot places emphasis on her sexuality rather than on her act of passionately paying homage to Retro Girl. The camera begins on a zoom of her chest as she opens the cape, revealing her breasts before any other part of the scene. Check it out below:

I’m not saying there should be no sex and no sexuality in this program, but why can’t the female heroes fight the bad guys while fully clothed, as the men do?

While the sexualization of women is not unique in television programs, it’s worth criticizing here.

Why? Because of the show’s apparent attempt at positively representing women in terms of character traits. Powers is not entirely backwards, but there is a definite imbalance in the amount of skin the main female characters are showing versus the amount the main male characters are showing, and it’s not necessary to the plot. Especially not in a show that's supposed to have powerful female characters.

I won’t critically analyze each scene in terms of its representation of women, since the show generally portrays women as multifaceted and often strong, but I wish Powers would opt to focus on the females’ words and actions rather than their bodies, unless it is relevant to the scene. It shouldn’t matter that the female characters were drawn in sexy costumes in the comics, because this feature of comics is socially problematic and unnecessary to the story.

Further, several non-white actors are playing characters who were white in the comics, so improving the show's representation of women is a logical next step. Powers' mistake can always be reversed as the show progresses, and it won’t change anything besides pleasing feminist fans. To the all-male set of executive producers: it’s not too late to change!