Sony's plans to reward its most devoted video game-loving customers with the PlayStation Rewards program appear to have changed. According to an e-mail sent to participants in the PlayStation Rewards beta, the customer loyalty program won't launch next month as planned.
And, suggested by the wording of that e-mail, it may not launch ever. PlayStation Rewards beta members were informed that "the program is not ready to roll out to the public in April as originally planned."
"But rest assured, we will continue to thank loyal and devoted customers like you with innovative offerings," the official e-mail reads.
PlayStation Rewards was announced in 2010 as a loyalty program that would reward PlayStation 3 owners for various activities, from playing PlayStation Network games to taking part in PlayStation Home events. Rewards members could participate in quests centered on rating games, downloading videos and reading e-mails.
Prizes for the planned PlayStation Rewards program ranged from themes and avatars to all expense paid trips to industry events and game development studios.
Contacted for comment, Sony Computer Entertainment America reps reiterated the message of the e-mail sent to beta participants:
After careful consideration and evaluation following the PlayStation Rewards beta, we have decided not to roll out the program to the public at this time. We remain committed to providing the best overall consumer experience for our users, and we will be refocusing our efforts in the near future to further developing PlayStation Plus and our other network services. We will continue to find innovative ways to thank our loyal and devoted customers.
Here is the e-mail sent to PlayStation Rewards beta members, with some participants in good standing being compensated for their troubles with t-shirts:
We wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your participation in the PlayStation®Rewards Beta, which is ending on March 31st. Your feedback helped us understand the kinds of things that make you feel appreciated and valued.
Based on what we learned, we have decided the program is not ready to roll out to the public in April as originally planned. But rest assured, we will continue to thank loyal and devoted customers like you with innovative offerings.
Thanks again for your participation and feedback.
Sincerely,
PlayStation®Rewards Team
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!