PlayStation gamers slam free reward 'rip off'

PlayStation Stars is a current subject of controversy, as it appears that Sony has removed the option for players to exchange their points for free credits.

Previously, players could exchange 1,250 points for £5 of store credit.

While nothing has been confirmed by Sony, many users of the service are saying that option is no longer available for them.

Personally, on my account, there are no longer any free credit options whatsoever.

Other users have reported now being only able to claim £10 for 2,500 points which is the same conversion rate but means individuals will have to save points for longer.

We have no idea what the plan is long-term until something is confirmed by Sony, but what this change does do is highlight just what a bad deal the service now is.

If free credit options are removed, PlayStation users will only be able to use their points on pointless digital collectibles or full game releases.

Full game releases may sound like a positive thing, but when you analyse what you’re actually getting, PlayStation Stars is ripping off its users.

Dave The Diver is one of the claimable games.

There’s no quibbling with the fact that even with the option removed, PlayStation Stars equates £5 in value to 1,250 points.

Let’s take a game like the aforementioned Dave The Diver which can be claimed for 5,000 points.

For the same amount, players previously would have nabbed £20 in free store credit.

But you see, Dave The Diver is only £15.99 on the PlayStation Store so by eliminating the free credit option, anyone who does claim the game is ‘paying’ over the odds.

It’s far from being the only example.

Patrick Star: The Game is available to nab for 10,000 points.

Previously, Stars users would have been able to gain £40 in credit for that number of points.

If they use them to redeem Patrick Star: the Game though, it’s yet another over-the-odds situation, as the game is £34.99 on the PlayStation Store.

They’re not all bad deals. Nabbing Stellar Blade or Gran Turismo 7, for example, is like-for-like.

Their £69.99 retail value equates to the 17,500 points they cost, which is £70 in the previous exchange rate of store credit.

I’d recommend that you do the maths though if you are to redeem a game.

Make sure it’s one where you’re not being short-changed following the service’s changes, because there are plenty of bad deals here.