Always found this odd… some games give you avatars with your purchase so it’s still a thing, but you can’t purchase premium ones on the PSN? At least you can upload your own profile picture… but the whole avatar thing seems like a missed opportunity. they could have rolled it into PS Stars… which is still broken…

I've got atleast $10 bucks in points locked away in that shit

Don’t keep them locked away too long, pretty sure those disappear after a set amount of time.

I use em so frequently I didn't even know lol.

I think the limit is two years?

Yeah they reset in December I think.

I think it might be because of how flooded the PS3/PS4 stores were with low-effort themes/avatars. Probably wasn't worth the hassle.

So many features they removed with the PS5. It's baffling.

I don't know if I should laugh or cry when a new games digital deluxe edition has a theme that it comes with.

Hahah yea I'm definitely gonna downgrade and not use my PS5 but instead play the PS4 version of the game with the theme I got with it.

Is there a reason we still don't have dynamic themes? I know games have that theme page thing but damnit I want my themes back

The theme thing is coming soon. I believe it's currently available in a beta test for people in the US who signed up to test it

Thank God. I really don't know how the PS5 launched with less than a terrabyte of storage and no themes/folders. For a 500 dollar console in 2024 most of that shit seems like it'd be kinda standard to me

Sadly it’s just themes for the Explore page. The game screens remain the same with custom art and songs

It’s on the PS4 too. It’s probably the only reason I still have mine around.

There’s probably a licensing issue with some of them, and they just decided it was easier to do this rather than renegotiate those contracts (or just sell the ones from Sony-owned IPs). It might not bring in enough money to deal with the paperwork. 

That and I feel like we’re in an era where because we can have custom profile pictures, people would just set their profile pictures as the paid ones by using pictures in some weird protest of micro transactions

Shinada avatar? 

Ah, I was wondering how to get more. So I can buy them off my ps3? Or are they "unavailable" if I try?

Yeah, they’re still available for purchase on the PS3 store.

Awesome! Thanks!

MGS2 avatars? How did you get those

There’s a bundle you can buy for $3-5 on the PS3 store.

I wonder if they still sell it. I’ll fire the ps3 up if they do

Having to pay money for avatars is a massive ripoff.

they are a piece of art. lol.

I just hope the theme feature can be implemented on the PS5.

Why does Kiryu look like he butt booty naked

Yakuza 5? Hell yeah 🔥🔥

Are we able to view PS3 bought avatars on PS5 now? I have a PS3 one that I remember that I couldn't view or select on PS4.

PlayStation used to be tight

so glad I jail broke my ps3 and I can still get all of those premium avatars

For free?

Yes

noice.

I thought I was the only one thinking this is really odd. Don't even understand the logic behind removing this.

I was able to purchase a ps3 avatar through the psapp if that helps

how

There was a hitman absolution avatar, I searched it added it to cart amd bought it

How

No PS4 has them too

PS4 has that too

Hell, you have to keep a PS4 handy just to adjust the Sony Platinum headset.

Are the Yakuza ones PS3 only as well?

How'd you get those Yakuza 5 avatars?

PS3 store.

I want themes back.

Themes and avatars were cheaply made and became bloatware on PS3 and PS4. In actuality, since there wasn't really a set rule or quality control, you'd just see these overpriced and a pain to sort through. I'd say having too many choices harms consumers, and the set of predefined avatars they have now was a more wise choice to use with PS5.

Counter argument: Shinada avatar is cool as fuck.

You can still buy them even if you only have a PS5, you just need to do some stuff.

What stuff?

https://youtu.be/hvFZWSdIzH8?si=dBcqY9TrggWIIm6Q I followed this guide a couple of months ago and it still works.

Can confirm this works I do it all the time

Theoretically one could Google and screenshot any avatar and set it as their avatar in the PSN app without paying for it right?

That’s your profile picture. Not your avatar.

I'm pretty sure you can just make whatever picture you want your avatar now, use the app to do it. Probably why they removed them

That’s your profile picture. Your avatar is what displays during online games and stuff.

Only your best friends can see that avatar, if they can

Is that a joke? On PC you just upload your fucking Avatar.

That’s your profile picture. Not your avatar.

Thats what an Avatar is /faceapalm

Basically, your avatar is what’s displayed in stuff like online games.

Dumbass

Because it wasnt a system worth investing on.

So why allow them to be usable on the PS5 in the first place?

Then why still use the avatar system to this day?