A couple of days ago, we found out that there was a rumour going around the web claiming that
Sony was finally addressing the PlayStation Network username issue; finally allowing players to change their PlayStation Network ID.
The PlayStation Network service was first introduced in November of 2006, when the PlayStation 3 launched in Japan and North America. This service allowed players to access online features like the PlayStation Store and connect to the internet to game online.
Users soon realised that there was no way to change their username once it had been created, leading to several complaints over the years since changing the username meant that players needed to create a different PlayStation Network ID; losing all of their progress regarding trophies and loising all of their online friends.
Twelve long years since the PlayStation Network's launch in 2006, Sony will finally allow players to change their PlayStation Network ID...but there is a catch.
As posted on the official PlayStation Blog, Sony will soon begin testing this new feature that will allow users to change their PSN Online ID. This Beta period will become available to select users who have already registered as testers for PS4 system software betas.
According to the statement, during this Beta period testers will be able to change their ID as many times as they want for free. After the test period is over and the feature officially goes live, every user will have the right to change their username once for free, after they've change their username once, if they ever want to change their ID again they will have to pay $9.99 USD/CAD in order to change it. PlayStation Plus members will be able to change their username for $4.99 USD/CAD.
Users who choose to change their ID will also be given the option to display their previous PSN ID with the new ID so that their online friends can easily recognise them. This can only be done once, though, since after deciding to display the old ID or not, users won't be able to adjust this setting after completing the online ID change process.
The test period for the program will conclude by the end of November and the full feature will become available for all users in early 2019.
It is still a bit disappointing that users only get one ID change for free and then they will have to pay for it. Being completely fair, though, $9.99 USD for an ID change isn't expensive at all and people are unlikely to want to change their username on a regular basis so the price is somewhat justified. Whatever the case, it is nice to finally have the option to change the PlayStation Network ID.