PS3 News: Sony: You Can't Expect PSN Cards In Europe Any Time Soon - PS3 News

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Sony: You Can't Expect PSN Cards In Europe Any Time Soon

The saga of the pre-paid PlayStation Network cards has been an interesting and frustrating one.

First, we heard they would arrive at a certain time in North America, but they only turned up in bizarre retail locations at sporadic times. You can find them now but European gamers have been waiting for their shot at the handy-dandy PSN card. Unfortunately, according to a recently translated interview with Belgian gaming site 9lives, Sony has said you shouldn't hold your breath. As Sony stated-

"We know that the demand is huge, but it's a difficult task to release them. Europe has many countries, and each of them has their own VAT, you know. We won't say it will never come, but you can't expect it in the near future."

The region issue has been a recurring theme for Europe in previous years, concerning both hardware and software, and we know some gamers across the ocean often complain about the situation. Of course, one has to look at this from Sony's perspective as well; there are definite stumbling blocks and to deal with them all can be a daunting task (even for mega-powerful global corporations). On the other hand, there are plenty of legitimate complaints gamers have raised and they feel Sony just isn't giving them their just due. Well, this new information is bound to kick off the controversy yet again.

5/25/2009 Ben Dutka

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Comments (24 posts)

shadowpal2
Monday, May 25, 2009 @ 11:14:47 PM
Reply

I guess it's understandable...sad though.

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Robochic
Monday, May 25, 2009 @ 11:14:51 PM
Reply

I live in Ontario Canada and have been waiting and waiting but i was told they might be in canada soon we'll see.

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The Cheat
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 12:55:23 PM

I have to see those cards anywhere in Canada. i travel a lot and have never seen a single one... its almost as if sony hates money...

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Gregory Freeman
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 5:32:38 PM

ontarian here also... its dumb... but its not sony holding back... its stupid socialistic laws that are holding it bck in both canada and europe... underlying laws, that have existed for a while... but yet ms, i tunes, nintendo, all have cards on sale... so i dunno wut sony's doing differently

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kevinater321
Friday, May 29, 2009 @ 10:22:23 AM

I'm in Ontario too i think that wii and microsoft are using points not money. And Apple is just above laws :P no they probally just found some loop-hole and sony hasn't yet. But the time will come Canadians :D

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tes37
Monday, May 25, 2009 @ 11:30:23 PM
Reply

I know some of the people could get bank accounts and use debit cards.
Last edited by tes37 on 5/25/2009 11:30:50 PM

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fluffernutter
Monday, May 25, 2009 @ 11:51:42 PM

I was going to comment, similarly, about this. What is the big deal about the cards? Is it because people can gift these rather than enter their account information to use on PSN? Is it really THAT big of a deal that the cards aren't available? Some shops charge tax on these cards too and you can get them tax free on PSN.

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fundando
Monday, May 25, 2009 @ 11:55:24 PM

And it is environmentally friendly. :)

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Jian2069
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 8:57:34 PM

@fluffernutter
some people dont have a debit/credit card,
think of the 12 year olds

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somethingrandom
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 11:38:13 PM

Can't use debit on the store, and people under 18 can't own credit cards. Unless they are MasterCard gift cards, and those have an extra fee tacked on(like $4 on a $25 card).

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Jordanboi123
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 1:56:20 AM
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i know this a little bit off this topic in a way but i have always said why dont they just put US and UK together that way the uk will get games fast and alot more stuff its seems a bit unfair on us brits to have to wait for things when we speak the same language as US.It seem's pretty simple to me but there ya go.

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Highlander
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 10:13:44 AM

Indeed. To a great extent it's a case of localized for one English speaking country, localized for all of them.

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Gregory Freeman
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 5:38:09 PM

First, and it better be first,

they have to unify canada and us into a true North American network before they can even think about adding the uk... hell its our own network, and we're being shafted..

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hobgoblin
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 1:56:56 AM
Reply

But, as with global store releases, if Microsoft can do it, why can't Sony?

Not everyone has a credit card, and there have been numerous posts on the EU forums with "Account Management" not accepting card details, whereas you enter your details via the official PS3 site and if you are lucky, it works.

PSN cards are just a simpler way of paying online, and Sony are shooting themselves in the foot (with Europe) yet again by not releasing them.

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Naga
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 11:07:05 AM

MS points? PSN uses money

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Gregory Freeman
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 @ 5:39:19 PM

so does iTunes, yet they can be sold,

what's the diff between psn and iTunes??

(besides Jail breaking)

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kevinater321
Friday, May 29, 2009 @ 10:25:30 AM

Too bad sony can't be jailbroken :P that would be sweeeet tons of free games

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Ghidora
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 1:58:04 AM
Reply

Well they should only realease it in the bigger European countries...

Im fine with my VISA card.

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CrazyIrishBoy
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 8:07:16 AM
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Why would i want one of these cards when using debit, laser watever is so much easier, can any1 tell me the advantage of them?

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pavlovic
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 9:04:26 AM
Reply

In Mexico we do have PSN Cards, 20 and 50 USDollars, that we have to pay at the exchange rate of the day (something like 13 pesos for 1 dollar) plus 15% VAT.

They can only be found in the Sony Style Shops (like 5 in the country) or online at the Sony Style website.

But we can't pay anything with credit/debit cards... I can tell you, it would be easier if we could pay with credit cards rather than PSN Cards

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Aerifale
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 10:07:03 AM
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well for me personally this is quite annoying but what can ya do but move to America or sumthin crazy lol:)

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Highlander
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 10:18:12 AM
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SCEE is cutting off their nose to spite their face. If the cards are sold at face value throughout Europe and the buyer pays sales tax (VAT) based on that purchase, then there is no tax issue when they purchase something in the PSN store because they have already paid VAT on the purchase of the PSN card.

Frankly, all this dragging of the feet does is to encourage European PS3/PSP users to create US based (or Japanese) PSN accounts, since they can purchase PSN cards for the US (or Japan) at various online retail sites already. Making the console region free is/was a great idea, but until Sony manages to solve this regional shop/Home/online dilema, the region free thing will remain more than a little broken.

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BikerSaint
Tuesday, May 26, 2009 @ 2:21:26 PM
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It's hard to believe after all this time, Sony's legal team can't figure a way to make the cards accessible worldwide.

Sometimes it just seems like their legal department's been taking pointers from their ill-advised advertising department.

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manbot
Sunday, August 09, 2009 @ 8:32:26 AM
Reply

I just bought PSN$50 code from 4SaleUSA.com and they send me a code after a phone call same day. I can tell this is reputable website http://www.4saleusa.com/

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