Various PlayStation accounts are being ‘permanently suspended’ and no one knows why

[8BiTw0LF]

After unexplained bans, PlayStation users report their accounts have been restored

Sony has not commented on the ban / unban wave.

www.theverge.com

Many PlayStation Network users reported Monday that their accounts were unexpectedly permanently suspended.
“This account is permanently suspended from PlayStation Network due to violations of the PlayStation Network Terms of Service and User Agreement,” Sony said in a message to one user. A user on Reddit reported getting a similar message, and a look at PlayStation accounts on Facebook and Instagram shows dozens of people who’ve received similar notices in the last few hours. I’ve also seen reports from the gaming forum ResetEra and from Verge readers who wrote into our tips inbox.
Some who have received these suspensions are understandably distraught, as they may have spent a lot of money on digital PlayStation games that they no longer have access to.
Sony hasn’t publicly acknowledged the issues. There’s nothing about any problems listed on Sony’s “important notices” PlayStation support page, and the company hasn’t posted about them on its PlayStation or Ask PlayStation social accounts on X (formerly Twitter). The company didn’t immediately reply to our request for comment.



It’s unclear how widespread the problems are. I booted up my PS5 and was able to jump into Baldur’s Gate 3 and Fortnite just like I normally would, and I was also able to log into the iOS PlayStation app without seeing a ban.

Reddit:






What could this be? The hack that happened a few months ago? Retaliation for removing Discovery content? Human failure at Sony?

 

[laynelane]

It's not clear how widespread this is or if it's yet another 'Sony bad' article from this particular media outlet. I'll wait for more information before getting worried.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

It's not clear how widespread this is or if it's yet another 'Sony bad' article from this particular media outlet. I'll wait for more information before getting worried.

If it's just a scheme, it's an extremely well-executed one. There's countless people who reports they have the same error when trying to logon to PSN.

 

[Snes nes]

I’m on a hacking spree Albeit it maybe slow.

 

[John Elden Ring]

Many PlayStation Network users reported Monday that their accounts were unexpectedly permanently suspended.

“This account is permanently suspended from PlayStation Network due to violations of the PlayStation Network Terms of Service and User Agreement,” Sony said in a message to one user. A user on Reddit reported getting a similar message, and a look at PlayStation accounts on Facebook and Instagram shows dozens of people who’ve received similar notices in the last few hours.

I’ve also seen reports from the gaming forum ResetEra and from Verge readers who wrote into our tips inbox.

Some who have received these suspensions are understandably distraught, as they may have spent a lot of money on digital PlayStation games that they no longer have access to.
Sony hasn’t publicly acknowledged the issues. There’s nothing about any problems listed on Sony’s “important notices” PlayStation support page, and the company hasn’t posted about them on its PlayStation or Ask PlayStation social accounts on X (formerly Twitter). The company didn’t immediately reply to our request for comment.

Via The Verge

 

[Loy310]

Sony are fucking dicks when it comes to customer service.

 

[Gods&Monsters]

Probably just a bug. Calm down.

 

[Dr Bass]

Yeah. Surely a temporary bug. People need to chill. A shockingly large amount of people saying they are now switching to Xbox on the various news sites as a result of this. Gee I wonder who is behind that.

 

[laynelane]

If it's just a scheme, it's an extremely well-executed one. There's countless people who reports they have the same error when trying to logon to PSN.

Yep, I did a bit of nosing around and there's reports coming from a variety of people. It sounds like a glitch in the system. Hopefully, Sony will make a statement soon.

 

[ethomaz]

They always say they have done nothing.
Even more when these are trophy hunters that cheated with jailbroken PS4s.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

Probably just a bug. Calm down.

Tell that to the people who can't access any of their digital games lol.

This "bug" may open up to the question, if Sony should be able to revoke peoples access, to games they've bought on PSN.
I'm sure the EU would love to punch Sony on that part - and they should.

 

[anonpuffs]

Tell that to the people who can't access any of their digital games lol.

This "bug" may open up to the question, if Sony should be able to revoke peoples access, to games they've bought on PSN.
I'm sure the EU would love to punch Sony on that part - and they should.

No company should be able to steal the content you paid for for no reason. Just like Samsung can't break into your house and take your TV away, Sony shouldn't be able to revoke access to your console or your library without some sort of criminal activity, and that should only be done by court order if you're found guilty.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

No company should be able to steal the content you paid for for no reason. Just like Samsung can't break into your house and take your TV away, Sony shouldn't be able to revoke access to your console or your library without some sort of criminal activity, and that should only be done by court order if you're found guilty.

I strongly agree! Even if a customer cheats with trophies, they should be able to download their games - and lose access to online features. Terrible backend system Sony have established.

 

[anonpuffs]

I strongly agree! Even if a customer cheats with trophies, they should be able to download their games - and lose access to online features. Terrible backend system Sony have established.

Absolutely. I feel strongly about this; if this isn't fixed Sony should be held liable via class action lawsuit. If I buy something, it's MINE. Get your fucking corporate grubby hands off of it. If I do something wrong, sure ban me from your network. But what's mine is mine.

 

[Gods&Monsters]

Tell that to the people who can't access any of their digital games lol.

This "bug" may open up to the question, if Sony should be able to revoke peoples access, to games they've bought on PSN.
I'm sure the EU would love to punch Sony on that part - and they should.

I get what you mean but any platform holder has that power, yes. They have the ability to lock your account. Is that a new revelation you had today?

EU don't even need to investigate. They know.

Google can completely shut down your Google account. Here's the info you need.

If your Google account is banned, it could cause widespread issues for you. No Gmail, no Docs, no YouTube — it's a scary thought.

www.androidauthority.com

Xbox Support

support.xbox.com

What happens to your Steam games if you get banned?

A: When a user is banned via either one of our anti-cheat services, the following happens: The account cannot join secure servers for the AppIDs they are banned.

www.vintageisthenewold.com

Fortnite will ban your account from now on if you do this

Players who have been using (or who stumble upon) this one glitch have started being banned by Epic Games, which could lead to permanent bans in the future.

www.google.com

This is what happens when your Nintendo Switch account gets banned

Say goodbye to your digital games library and hello to purgatory.

www.cnet.com

 

[Gamernyc78]

Saw this and didn't post bcus I think it's bs.

 

[8BiTw0LF]

Is that a new revelation you had today?

Nope, but I've been spooked by all these reports and Sonys past history in regards to removing content and features.

I get this is a PS forum, but there's no Xbots in here - and it seems like there's some kind of "competition" in who can be the most loyal PS fan. Every thread is heavily aggressive against Xbox, but 90% of threads are about PlayStation
Makes no sense - to me at least.

I guess the chaos theory sticks.

 

[Johnic]

Another FUD campaign because Xbox people are getting banned over MS rewards? It is the Verge after all.

 

[laynelane]

Tell that to the people who can't access any of their digital games lol.

This "bug" may open up to the question, if Sony should be able to revoke peoples access, to games they've bought on PSN.
I'm sure the EU would love to punch Sony on that part - and they should.

No one should be able to revoke access to products a person has purchased. And yet that absolutely can and does happen. I remember it took an incredible amount of effort and legal consequences for Steam to simply add a refund option. This is something we still don't have in the console space (a refund policy that guarantees a refund if certain conditions are met - not going to include stuff like if you don't download the game you can refund because that's pointless for way too many scenarios). I game on console, on PS, but I'd like to see protections against having digital libraries removed and refunds. However, I also think it will take what Steam went through for it to happen. Basic consumer protections such as these are provably not a priority for Sony, Xbox, or Nintendo.

 

[laynelane]

I get what you mean but any platform holder has that power, yes. They have the ability to lock your account. Is that a new revelation you had today?

EU don't even need to investigate. They know.

Google can completely shut down your Google account. Here's the info you need.

If your Google account is banned, it could cause widespread issues for you. No Gmail, no Docs, no YouTube — it's a scary thought.

www.androidauthority.com

Xbox Support

support.xbox.com

What happens to your Steam games if you get banned?

A: When a user is banned via either one of our anti-cheat services, the following happens: The account cannot join secure servers for the AppIDs they are banned.

www.vintageisthenewold.com

Fortnite will ban your account from now on if you do this

Players who have been using (or who stumble upon) this one glitch have started being banned by Epic Games, which could lead to permanent bans in the future.

www.google.com

This is what happens when your Nintendo Switch account gets banned

Say goodbye to your digital games library and hello to purgatory.

www.cnet.com

I have a few reasons for sticking with physical and this is one of them. I doubt I'd ever run afoul of Sony, but better safe than sorry.