PlayStation's New "Franchise Rewards" Program Sparks Confusion

While Sony was busy rolling out hardware tweaks, they quietly dropped a brand-new initiative called Franchise Rewards—a program that lets players buy exclusive merchandise tied to their in-game achievements.  

The concept is straightforward enough. If you're the kind of player who grinds for platinum trophies, Sony's new program basically gives you bragging rights you can wear or display on your shelf.  

For instance, the first game to kick things off is Ghost of Tsushima. Players who platinum the game will receive a special code that can be redeemed on the Franchise Rewards website, unlocking the chance to buy exclusive merch like a themed t-shirt and a collectible coin set. 

Now, if you've ever played Destiny 2, you'll know this system. Bungie (now owned by Sony) has been doing something similar for years. Destiny players could buy limited-edition physical rewards, such as rings or hoodies, after completing specific in-game milestones like seasonal challenges or raids. The key difference here is that these weren't freebies. 

For longtime Destiny players, that system made sense. 

Grinding through hours of content felt worth it when you could get a real-world memento tied to your said grind. It's something that shows, "Yeah, I actually did that." So, when Sony announced Franchise Rewards, many thought it sounded like a fun idea. 

But here's where the confusion began. The moment Sony revealed the program, social media ran the other way and started flaming the concept. Fans quickly assumed this was meant to replace PlayStation Stars, Sony's previous rewards program that recently shut down. 

PlayStation Stars was messy, but it was a pretty generous setup. You earned points for buying digital games and could redeem them for store credit—sometimes $5, $10, or even $20 worth. Since digital games are the norm these days, it was easy to rack up points just by doing what most PlayStation users were already doing. You could even use those credits to buy skins, DLCs, or small add-ons in games like Diablo without spending extra cash. 

Unfortunately, Sony decided the system was a little too good.  

Sony eventually pulled the plug, citing the program as unsustainable. There were several confusing moments where it disappeared, came back, and disappeared again, each time with smaller rewards. 

That's why fans are skeptical about Franchise Rewards. When you slap the word "rewards" on anything PlayStation-related so soon after canceling a program that people actually liked, it's easy to see why the reaction isn't positive. But, truth be told, Franchise Rewards isn't anything like PlayStation Stars, nor is it trying to be.  

Unlike PlayStation Stars, this new program doesn't give you points or discounts. Instead, it gives you access to exclusive merchandise that's only available if you've achieved something meaningful in a game.  

It's not a cash reward system; it's more like a collector's club for PlayStation's most dedicated players. And that makes sense, given Bungie's influence. Sony likely looked at how Destiny players engaged with those achievement-based merch drops and wanted to test it out themselves. 

Ghost of Tsushima was probably the perfect choice to start with. 

It's a game that has built a strong emotional connection with players. Jin Sakai became an instant fan favorite, and his story struck a chord with gamers worldwide. Plus, earning the platinum trophy in Ghost of Tsushima isn't overly punishing—it takes time and effort but feels achievable for most players.  

Sony will likely expand it to other franchises soon. Spider-Man seems like an obvious next step, given its massive audience. Astro Bot could fit easily, too, given its family-friendly appeal and wide accessibility. If the system takes off, expect exclusive collectibles tied to these franchises to pop up. 

Still, Sony's got to rework the pricing. The Ghost of Tsushima t-shirt costs $25, and with $14 shipping tacked on, that's nearly $40 just to show off your platinum trophy. That's a steep price for something you only get access to after spending dozens of hours in the game.  

If you're putting in the time to fully complete a game, you shouldn't also have to overpay for the merch that celebrates it. 

Even a small discount, say 10%, would go a long way toward making you feel valued. Imagine getting that discount and then using it toward Ghost of Yotei. That's the kind of reward that feels meaningful. 

Sony's Franchise Rewards has a solid concept, but it's just wrapped in bad timing and a bit of poor branding. The ghost of PlayStation Stars (pun intended) still looms large, and it's hard for fans not to compare the two. The old system gave you money back when you bought games. The new one asks them to pay more for physical items after putting in serious gameplay hours. 

The idea itself isn't bad. If you're already close to finishing a platinum run, knowing there's an exclusive reward waiting might motivate you to push through those last few trophies. And from Sony's perspective, that means more playtime and, more importantly, more money. 

What Sony needs now is to reframe how they present Franchise Rewards. 

Say that it's not a replacement for PlayStation Stars but a different kind of fan service—one that celebrates player achievements rather than their spending habits. It's meant to make players feel proud of their accomplishments. 

So, while the internet might be rolling its eyes for now, there's potential here. If Sony can adjust the pricing and maybe tie in small digital bonuses or discounts, Franchise Rewards could evolve into something genuinely worth celebrating. 

Nobody's going to platinum a game they don't enjoy just to buy a t-shirt 

But if you truly love a PlayStation franchise, spend dozens of hours exploring every corner of Tsushima, perfect every swing through Manhattan, or master every puzzle in Astro Bot—owning a piece of merch tied directly to those achievements could feel pretty special. 

Right now, the program feels like a good idea that needs some fine-tuning. But if Sony listens to the feedback and rethinks how they "reward" us, this could become a fun new way to celebrate gaming milestones.