When the PlayStation 5 launched, it came with a number of new features, some of which were well received and others that have hardly been noticed. While the jury is still out on whether the card system is any good, as some developers use it well and others ignore it, there are some clear success and weak points. On the positive side, there is the integrated PlayStation store that has greatly sped up the process of purchasing games. On the negative end of the spectrum, there is the accolades system, which was basically dead on arrival.
Considering that a vast majority of users never bothered to utilize the feature, it is no surprise that PlayStation decided to scrap accolades. While the premise was solid enough - players awarding those they meet online for being fun to play with - the feature took too long to access and took players out of the game they were playing. With games like Overwatch 2 having an in-game endorsement mechanic as well, accolades were redundant. Hopefully, with its next update, the PS5 will fully retire the feature and replace it with something better. Intriguingly, Sony already has the perfect alternative.
PS5’s Accolades Section Should Be Replaced With PlayStation Stars’ Display Case
Despite being a failed experiment, PSN profiles on PlayStation 5 still display the accolades players have obtained. For most players - even those that frequent online games - this section will be empty, signifying its irrelevancy. With Sony discontinuing accolades, there is no option to earn any to fill this void, leaving players with an ugly section on their profiles that serves no purpose. However, removing it and moving on is not an ideal scenario.
While an update can and should take accolades off PSN profiles, Sony has to make sure that it has a replacement ready to go. If it were to remove accolades without adding anything new, it would require a redesign of the PSN profile UI to not leave a large empty space, which seems like an absurd amount of effort since a solution already exists. That solution is PlayStation Stars’ Display Case, a gimmick that is not reaching its full potential since it is limited to the PlayStation mobile app.
In theory, PlayStation Stars is an excellent service, as members can rack up points just for purchasing games or completing challenges in PlayStation exclusives and third party titles. These points can then be redeemed for PlayStation currency or collectibles, with the latter also able to be gathered by completing tasks in various games. Challenges range from defeating a boss in Elden Ring to solving game-related puzzles to beating Dead Space on Impossible mode, with players getting cute items to place in their Display case.
Unfortunately, this Display case is only really seen by the player adding the balloons and models into it, as few players will check their friends’ profiles through the PSN app. The idea of the Display Case is to showcase PlayStation Stars accomplishments, but unfortunately, players cannot show off too much when they are limited to a mobile app. This makes the Display Case’s appearance on PS5 consoles all the more important, as it instantly would make the feature - and PS Stars as a whole - more exciting to engage with.
By swapping out the dead Accolades section of PlayStation profiles with the Display Case from PlayStation Stars, Sony would succeed on two fronts. First, it would fully eliminate a failed feature from the PS5’s early days, and second, it would encourage more gamers to enroll in PlayStation Stars. For PlayStation Stars to succeed as a rewards program, it needs to reach a wider audience. Tying everything to the mobile app means many players may not even know the program exists, so adding Display Cases to PS5 profiles would be a perfect way to remind fans that PlayStation Stars is worth their time.
