What to do when a PlayStation account holder dies
Sony Interactive Entertainment accounts are forfeited under the program's terms when the account is closed
OverviewWhen someone dies
PlayStation Support
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PlayStation Support
Timeline
No published bereavement timeline. PS Plus benefits run through the end of the paid period; after that, cloud saves, online multiplayer, and downloaded monthly games become inaccessible. Section 13 of the PSN Terms of Service reserves the right to delete data from dormant accounts without specifying a timeframe. Console Sharing persists as long as the account remains active and the console keeps its designation.
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
(General customer service)
Verified May 2026
Under Sony Interactive Entertainment's terms, PlayStation accounts do not constitute property of the account holder and are forfeited when the account is closed upon death. There is no established process for transferring accounts to heirs or the estate.
Families have occasionally received goodwill accommodations from Sony Interactive Entertainment, but these are not part of the published terms and cannot be relied upon.
What to do
If a PlayStation account holder has passed away, here is what to do:
1
Before doing anything else, preserve Console Sharing access on the deceased's primary console:
- •Confirm Console Sharing and Offline Play is enabled on their PS5 (Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play), or that their PS4 is set as the Primary PS4.
- •Do NOT close the PSN account and do not sign out of it on that console. As long as the account stays active and the console keeps its designation, other local user accounts on that console can keep playing the digital library.
- •Avoid enabling Console Sharing on any other PS5, which disables it on the current one.
2
If you have the deceased's sign-in credentials, sign in directly to manage the account. This is the only reliable path to access PSN, since Sony has no published bereavement workflow. From there you can:
- •Download any owned games to the primary console while the account is still active.
- •Review PS Plus status and cancel auto-renewal if desired (see the PS Plus cancellation step below).
- •Decide whether to leave the account open (to preserve Console Sharing) or close it via PlayStation Support or the PlayStation Family App (Settings > Close Your Account). Closure "will permanently delete all data and content associated with it."
3
For PlayStation Plus: cancel via Account Management on the web, or on PS5 under Settings > Users and Accounts > Account > Payment and Subscriptions > Subscriptions > PlayStation Plus. Sony states benefits continue "until the end of any previously purchased subscription payment period," after which online storage (cloud saves), online multiplayer, and monthly games downloaded for free become inaccessible. Redeemed PlayStation Plus packs, avatars, and PS Plus-discounted purchases remain on the account.
4
For PSN Wallet funds: Section 7.3 of the PSN Terms of Service states that wallet funds are "NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE EXCEPT WHERE THE LAW REQUIRES," and Section 12.3 confirms there is no refund for unused wallet balance on account termination "except as required by law." Some states and countries treat unredeemed stored-value balances as unclaimed property; a personal representative can contact PlayStation Support with the death certificate and letters of appointment to ask whether a refund is available under local law, but Sony publishes no guarantee.
5
For trophies and profile data: trophies, scores, game saves, and profile information are tied to the PSN account. Section 12.3 states this data "will not be retained or accessible" after account termination. Take screenshots of the trophy list or export a profile summary before any closure if it has sentimental value.
6
For previously purchased movies and TV shows: PlayStation Store discontinued new movie and TV purchases and rentals on August 31, 2021. Previously purchased video content remains available to the original account on PS4, PS5, and mobile while the account is active, but it is licensed, non-transferable, and lost at account closure.
7
For PlayStation Stars: the program stopped accepting new members on May 21, 2025 and stopped accruing new earnings on July 23, 2025. The program fully ends on November 2, 2026. Log in and redeem remaining Points on any unexpired balance before that date; points forfeit after shutdown.
8
Contact PlayStation Support only if you lack credentials and need to escalate. Provide the deceased's sign-in ID (email) and Online ID. Be prepared for the possibility that Sony will not grant access. Keep a written record of each contact attempt for the estate file.
Required Documents
- No formal requirements published by Sony (no bereavement process exists)
- Account sign-in ID (email) and Online ID — required by PlayStation Support to look up the account
- Certified death certificate and letters of appointment (testamentary or administration) — not required by Sony but typically needed to ask about wallet refunds under state unclaimed-property law
Timeline
No published bereavement timeline. PS Plus benefits run through the end of the paid period; after that, cloud saves, online multiplayer, and downloaded monthly games become inaccessible. Section 13 of the PSN Terms of Service reserves the right to delete data from dormant accounts without specifying a timeframe. Console Sharing persists as long as the account remains active and the console keeps its designation.
Frequently asked questions
No. PlayStation publishes no bereavement form, estate workflow, or dedicated support article for deceased users. The PSN Terms of Service do not mention death, inheritance, or estate at all. A personal representative has to contact PlayStation Support directly, and Sony offers no guarantee of access or refund.
No. Section 10.2 of the PSN Terms of Service licenses content on a "non-exclusive and revocable" basis for "personal, private, non-transferable, non-commercial, limited use," and Section 8.13 separately prohibits selling or transferring virtual items. Terms like "purchase" in the PS Store do not transfer ownership.
Yes, as long as the account stays open. Console Sharing and Offline Play on PS5 (Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play) lets other user accounts on the same console play the primary account's downloaded games and use some PlayStation Plus benefits. The equivalent on PS4 is designating it as the Primary PS4. Do not close the PSN account if you want to preserve this access.
Section 7.3 of the PSN Terms of Service states wallet funds are "non-refundable and non-transferable except where the law requires," and Section 12.3 confirms that on account termination the user "will not receive a refund for items (including subscriptions, virtual items, and pre-paid products or services), value accumulated on in-game items or any unused balance in your Wallet, except as required by law." Some U.S. states treat unredeemed stored-value balances as unclaimed property; a personal representative can raise this with PlayStation Support with a death certificate and letters of appointment, but Sony publishes no guaranteed process.
PlayStation Store discontinued new movie and TV purchases and rentals on August 31, 2021. Previously purchased video content remains accessible to the original account on PS4, PS5, and the PlayStation App, but, like all PSN content, the license is non-transferable and dies with the account if it is closed.
Sony announced on May 21, 2025 that PlayStation Stars is shutting down. The PlayStation Stars Terms of Service confirm new applications stopped on May 21, 2025 and the program ends on November 2, 2026 (the "Termination Date"). The Stars ToS states the account, Points, Collectibles, and Additional Benefits "cannot be transferred, bought, sold or in any way traded by you" and that members who cancel "will immediately forfeit their remaining Points balance." Points earned before October 24, 2024 expire after 24 months; later Points expire after 12 months. Members should redeem unexpired Points before the Termination Date.
Since PlayStation accounts are forfeited at death under the official terms, accounts can only be used during the account holder's lifetime. Redeeming, transferring, or sharing accounts while the account is active preserves their value.
PlayStation Support
WebsiteVisit website→
PlayStation Support
Timeline
No published bereavement timeline. PS Plus benefits run through the end of the paid period; after that, cloud saves, online multiplayer, and downloaded monthly games become inaccessible. Section 13 of the PSN Terms of Service reserves the right to delete data from dormant accounts without specifying a timeframe. Console Sharing persists as long as the account remains active and the console keeps its designation.
WebsiteSubmit claim online →
(General customer service)
Verified May 2026
