Introduction
PlayStation players often wonder if they can change their PSN name, and if so, how difficult it might be. Our comprehensive guide explores everything you need to know before deciding whether to change your PSN name.
We’ll explore why people want to change their PSN name, the pros and cons of doing so, and the potential impact on your gaming experience.
What You Need to Consider Before Changing Your PSN Name
One of the reasons players might want to change their PSN name is that they chose a username that now seems juvenile, crass, or embarrassing. Perhaps they’ve outgrown their old PSN name or just want a change. However, changing your PSN name is not without consequences.
For instance, changing your PSN name could cause confusion among long-time friends or detract from the strong online presence you’ve built over the years with your original handle. Furthermore, games that were played with your old PSN name might no longer recognize you as the same player after the name change. Save files, leaderboards, and trophies can become associated with your old name instead, creating issues that you wouldn’t want to deal with.
Therefore, before deciding on changing your PSN name, take the time to think about the potential impact on your gaming history, friends, and wider online presence.
The Ultimate Guide to Changing Your PSN Name: Everything You Need to Know
Now that you’ve decided that you want to change your PSN name, let’s dive deep into the procedure for doing so.
Eligibility for Changing Your PSN Name
The eligibility requirements are straightforward. You must own a PlayStation Network account, and your account must not have any previous infractions. Anyone with an active PS Plus subscription or owning a game with an online component is also eligible.
Restrictions and Limitations of Changing Your PSN Name
Some games published before April 1, 2018, might not recognize the new handle. Meaning that you could lose access to game features or lose your account’s progress. More recent games seem to have integrated the name-changing process support. A handful of games will have a name change lock, which means that players can only use their original PSN name.
Process of Changing Your PSN Name
The process of changing your PSN name will require a $9.99 fee, and in some instances, players can claim one change for free. The name change typically takes place within 24 hours.; however, if your account is explicit, obscene, or prohibited, your name change might end up being rejected, so you should choose wisely. Several gamers have reported that the name change results in the loss of some saved data. It’s not yet clear what Sony is doing to fix this issue, but it still exists.
Steps to Changing Your PSN Name: A Step-by-Step Guide
Go to the settings menu and select the Account Management option after accessing your profile on your PS4.
Choose Account Information, then click on Profile. Find Online ID and click on the Edit button beside it.
Enter your desired Online ID, then click on confirm.
A pop-up screen might appear asking you to verify that you are not infringing on anyone else’s rights during this process. Confirm process complete.
PSN Name Change: Pros and Cons You Should Be Aware Of
One of the biggest advantages of changing your PSN name is that it enables you to start anew, leaving behind a name that you no longer like or that doesn’t reflect you well. By taking this step, you could gain a new sense of identity that permits you to better engage with friends, followers, and fellow gamers. You could even use this step to use a more professional name in an individual or working capacity.
On the flip side, changing your PSN name could negatively affect your gaming history, friends and potentially cause access issues when playing certain games. You’ll need to think carefully about these potential downsides before making a final decision.
Exploring the Impact of Changing Your PSN Name on Friends, Games, and More
Before changing your PSN name, contemplate how it could impact your friends, games, and more. For instance, you could accidentally release you to a new identity, leading to confusion among fellow gamers.
Moreover, changing your name might affect your gameplay. Some games might lose information about your saves or leaderboards, while others might not associate them with your new handle. As such, when deciding to change your name, you need to weigh the pros and cons to decide whether the pros outweigh the cons.
Conclusion
In conclusion, changing your PSN name is entirely possible, but before taking this step, consider the impact it could have on your gaming experience. You might gain a new sense of identity, but you could also lose your gaming history, your online presence, and veteran friends. Consider everything carefully before making your call.
