If you’re an “old school gamer” you probably remember PlayStation Gamer Advisory Panel, and it looks like Sony is doing something similar.
There are several reports going around that users of PlayStation are receiving emails inviting them to a new exclusive program called PlayStation Owners Club.
“The PlayStation Owners’ Club is an ‘invitation only’ online community where you can share your direct thoughts and feedback with PlayStation,” the email reads. “We want to hear from a select group of PlayStation gamers to help us shape the future of your experience.”
The initial email includes a quick survey asking about your gaming habits, what PlayStation consoles you own, and other gaming related questions. “Passing” this survey will get you invited to the club to take future surveys about the PlayStation brand. It appears that several of the people I’ve seen talk about the survey recently, they all either pre-ordered or showed interest in the PS5 Pro at some point, but the survey has been going out since at least 2022.
I personally haven’t received an email. I have an original PlayStation account from day 1, so it doesn’t appear that length of ownership plays into it at all.
Does this all sound familiar? Well it might to some older PlayStation gamers.
A few years ago Sony had a program called the “Gamer Advisory Panel” or PlayStation G.A.P. for short that started in 2003. To get into this group you had to also be invited, and once you were invited they would send a welcome kit to your door which included some decent fan gear, but most notably a cool binder with a pen. Within the program, Sony would randomly send stuff here and there to celebrate new game releases, and offered beta programs via the message boards. GAP also had several small events to be invited to, and at one point could even be used to attend the highly exclusive E3 if done right.
More importantly it was a closed group of forums where gamers could get together and voice their opinions on PlayStation products and events. It was painful to figure out how to get invited to GAP, and once I personally finally got the invite, it was already on the way out. Beta invites dwindled, the message boards got slower, and Sony shuttered the program during the PS3 cycle.
However, it was often that surveys were sent out, and then you were rewarded with early access or some other benefit as a reward. So it was a very similar concept, especially early on, as the new PlayStation Owners Club.
(It’s also very similar to the Xbox Ambassador’s Program, which is also ending….)
It’s clear these companies want to have opinions, and possibly once they grow too big they lose a little value because it just becomes another Reddit or social board. Keeping it “exclusive” might warrant better overall opinions and longevity, before it reboots yet again. Or they could operate programs like EA Playtesting which are very particular about each test, and these surveys help create the groups needed.
It’s unclear how this program works or why most people would want to participate in it though. Yes it is cool to be in an “exclusive” community, but so far it seem it only sends you random surveys to complete, which might be good with avoiding another Concord disaster if handled correctly, but it doesn’t appear to be rewarding or that in-depth. There are tons of survey programs and opportunities you can take to get basically paid for the same opinion. And what Sony really needs to do is playtest their new live service games….
The most simple solution seems to obviously offer PlayStation Stars, but even that program is struggling at the moment. However in it’s current state, not much is known, and I haven’t seen anyone bragging about any type of reward from the Owners Club.
Either way, I obviously like giving my opinion, so I’d like an invite to check it out. If you are also interested then keep an eye on your emails. Again it’s unclear how they decide to pick individuals, but the only way to access the surveys is via the initial email. I did a quick search on the official PlayStation site and can’t find any other mention of it.
