Sony Screws Some Europeans With (Lack Of) PS3...

Sony Screws Some Europeans With (Lack Of) PS3 Store

How would you like to spend up to €659 (that's $878!) on a shiny new PlayStation 3 console, only to find out that one of its defining online features - the PlayStation Store, supposedly available to "all PS3 users" - is not available in your country. At all! And this isn't just an isolated case in pissant third-world countries, but a widely spread problem in many parts of Europe and other PAL countries, aroud 20 in total. The regional unavailability of the PlayStation Store is being signalled on the European PlayStation.com forums by an increasing number of angry customers, from the following countries (others likely to follow):

- Bulgaria

- Croatia

- Cyprus

- Czech Republic

- Greece

- Hungary

- Iceland

- Israel

- Romania

- Saudi Arabia

- Slovakia

- Slovenia

- Turkey

It seems that Sony has a very sick and twisted sense of humour, because the users who are unable to access the PlayStation Store are directed to eu.playstation.com/terms "for more details". And when they get there, they're greeted with this heartwarming message: "We've searched everywhere, but the page you're trying to open can't be found. Sorry!". Sorry?! That was something they were supposed to say BEFORE people wasted their money on something they never knew was lacking.

Well, in theory, it's still possible to create a UK account on the PlayStation Network from those countries, however users who did that are complaining that they can't use their credit cards in this case for the PlayStation Store. So what's Sony's response in the above topic?

"We are unable to support paid content in some countries. This is for too many reasons to mention. (...) PlayStation Network (online gaming and messaging) is available in all [44] countries. (...) Downloadable content is available in 23 countries. More Stores will be introduced across our territories in time, depending on demand."

That's super! So, let's sum it up: (much) delayed launch, (much) higher price, (much) fewer PS2 games compatible, no PS3 Store in some countries... Yep, I guess you could say that some of us Europeans have every right to be pissed off at Sony. "This is for too many reasons to mention".

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)