Sony appears to be exploring new ways for gamers to share their experiences on PlayStation, as the company is currently testing written user reviews. Traditionally, gamers have relied on star ratings and brief feedback to gauge the quality of a game. However, Sony’s recent move suggests that more detailed, user-generated reviews could soon become a part of the PlayStation ecosystem.

The Experiment: Inviting Users to Write Reviews

The potential for written user reviews on PlayStation first surfaced on the PlayStation subreddit, where a user shared an email they received from Sony. This email invited them to submit a written review for Helldivers 2, a game tied to their Online ID. The Gamer confirmed similar emails had been sent to other players, including requests for reviews of The Witcher 3.

When did PlayStation start allowing written reviews? Seems to only be allowed for few games on their store pages for now.
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What stands out about these invitations is that some users, even those who had only played a few hours of a game, were prompted to provide their opinions. Additionally, some users who owned the game on disc but did not have it digitally linked to their account were unable to leave a review, pointing to some limitations in the current system.

As of now, these reviews don’t seem to be publicly visible, indicating that Sony is likely conducting a beta test before potentially rolling out the feature more broadly. This testing phase suggests Sony is working on refining the process and addressing any issues before an official launch.

The Pros and Cons of User Reviews

User reviews are a double-edged sword. On the one hand, they offer a platform for gamers to express their opinions and contribute to the community. For those interested in game criticism or writing, it’s a valuable outlet. On the other hand, user reviews can sometimes be compromised by bad actors, such as those who engage in review bombing—intentionally leaving negative reviews to harm a game’s reputation.

This issue is significant enough that Take-Two Interactive, the parent company of Rockstar Games, acknowledged in an SEC filing that review bombs could negatively impact both sales and the company’s reputation.

Other platforms like Steam have taken steps to address these issues. Steam, for instance, has introduced a “helpfulness system” to filter out joke reviews and ensure that only substantial, meaningful feedback is highlighted. It remains to be seen how Sony will address similar challenges on the PlayStation platform, but the company will undoubtedly need to implement safeguards to maintain the integrity of its review system.

Final Thoughts

Sony’s experiment with written user reviews on PlayStation marks a potentially significant shift in how players interact with games on the platform. While the system is still in its testing phase, the move indicates a growing recognition of the value that detailed, user-generated content can bring to the gaming community. As Sony continues to refine this feature, it will be interesting to see how it balances the benefits of user reviews with the need to protect against potential misuse. If successful, this could enhance the PlayStation experience by providing gamers with richer, more informative insights into the games they play.

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