PlayStation does refund digital purchases, but its policy has a condition that is easy to miss: once you start downloading a game, you lose the right to cancel it unless it is faulty. These are the rules as described on Sony’s support page for the United Kingdom.
Games and add-ons
Full games, downloadable content and season passes can be refunded if you ask within 14 days of the purchase and have not downloaded or streamed the content.
In-game purchases
Consumables such as virtual currency, skins or boosts have the same 14-day limit, with one extra condition: you must not have launched the game after buying them. Items bought from inside a game are delivered immediately, which in practice rules them out.
Pre-orders
- Bought more than 14 days before release: you can cancel at any time before the release date.
- Bought less than 14 days before release: you can cancel before the release date, or within 14 days of the purchase if the game is already out.
In both cases the main content must not have been downloaded or preloaded. If the pre-order came with bonus content available right away, that content stops working when you cancel.
Subscriptions
For subscriptions such as PlayStation Plus, only the first payment can be refunded, within 14 days, and not the renewals. If you have used the service, for example by playing online, downloading the monthly games or using cloud storage, the refund may be reduced. The days of a free trial count towards those 14.
What cannot be refunded
- Wallet top-ups.
- Changes of online ID, unless the purchase was faulty.
- Voucher codes bought in shops, which have to be returned to the retailer.
Faulty content
If what you bought is faulty, the conditions above do not apply. Sony also states that nothing in its policy limits the rights you have under local law.
How to ask and where the money goes
You can cancel from the order details of the transaction, with the Cancel Purchase option, or through PlayStation Support. Refunds go to the original payment method where possible and to your PlayStation wallet otherwise, and can take up to 10 days.
Frequently asked questions
Can I refund a PlayStation game after downloading it?
Not under the standard policy. Once you have started downloading or streaming the content, it can only be refunded if it is faulty.
How long do I have to refund a PlayStation Store purchase?
14 days from the purchase for games, add-ons and in-game items. Pre-orders can be cancelled until the release date.
Can I get a refund for PlayStation Plus?
Only for the first payment and within 14 days. The refund may be reduced if you have used the subscription.
This article was written with AI assistance from the sources linked above.
