PS Stars wasn’t a perfect rewards program, but it did offer a clear benefit: you could earn credit to spend on the PlayStation Store. Now, Sony is replacing it, and the announcement of the new Franchise Rewards system hasn’t been well-received by players.
Franchise Rewards lets you earn physical merchandise by unlocking certain achievements (Trophies) in related games. It’s meant to be a thank you to dedicated fans who put in the time to finish a game or earn its most difficult achievement. But some question whether it’s truly a reward when you still have to pay to receive the items.
If you’ve won the trophies, the t-shirt costs $30 and the special pin is $25. Keep in mind that shipping can add up to $13 to the total price.
Many PlayStation fans are questioning whether this is a true rewards program, pointing out that it mainly unlocks access to a special store where you still have to spend money. Disappointment with the program has been widely expressed on sites like Push Square and Reddit.
The response to the recent changes has been largely negative. One user, bassjas12, pointed out that the previous system allowed them to earn $5 gift cards for purchases, which they could use on games or other content. The new system, however, seems to reward users with the *opportunity* to spend money on Sony merchandise, which they feel benefits Sony more than the players. They expressed frustration that it feels like they are funding a reward system *for* Sony, rather than being rewarded *by* it.
JonnyAces brought up a valid point about the pins and how they’re being offered. While the pin itself looks nice, he feels calling it a ‘reward’ feels exclusionary, like they’re limiting merchandise access. He suggests it would have been better to simply release the merch for sale, offering a discount to players who have finished the game or earned the Platinum Trophy, making it feel more inclusive.
The reaction wasn’t entirely negative; some Reddit users, like defenseform, specifically praised the pin and t-shirt.
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2025-09-26 15:06