How to Play PlayStation Games Not Available in the US
PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are popular all over the world, but not all games are available in every country at the same time. There are tons of games that never leave Japan or that are released in the UK or Europe earlier than the US (or vice versa). Some countries, such as Australia and Germany, have strict content laws, so many North American M-rated games are completely banned, but there are ways to get around the blockade.
While you can import a physical copy of region-specific games and play the disc on your console, the easier option is to get a digital copy from another country’s PlayStation Store directly on your PS4 or PS5. You will need to create a new PSN account associated with the country whose PSN online store you are trying to access, which will take a little time to set up – and you may have to use additional apps like Google Translate to help you with way, but it’s much easier (and often much cheaper and faster) than importing games from abroad.
Of course, there are some limitations: you can only access the paid DLC with the account that purchased it, and some online features require accounts with the correct location settings. Yes, and if the game doesn’t come with an English option, you might not be able to understand what’s going on in the story or read the in-game menus (although translation guides and walkthroughs may be available if the game is popular enough). But outside of those restrictions, you can play full games, demos, or even system themes that you buy from Japanese or European PlayStation stores with your US account.
Create a regional PSN account
We recommend doing this part on a desktop computer with Google Chrome, as the browser can automatically translate web pages, which will greatly simplify the process if you are trying to create an account for a country that speaks a different language. However, this can also be done right on your PS4 or PS5, or on your smartphone.
- If you are registering on a computer or mobile device : go to https://id.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/signin/#/signin?entry=%2Fsignin and click Create Account. If you are signing up for PS4 or PS5 : Create a new account on the login screen when loading the console.
- Fill out the registration form. When you go to the page asking for your country / region, select the country you want from the drop-down list. For example, if you are trying to access the Japanese PSN Store, select Japan.
- The page will reload to the form corresponding to the selected country. The language of the page can also change. If you’re using Google Chrome on your desktop, the browser will ask if you want to translate the page (or, depending on your settings, it might automatically translate the text). You can also right-click anywhere on the page and select “Translate to English”. If your browser can’t translate it for you, or you’re signing up to a console, try using Google Translate on your phone, as the app can translate text through your phone’s camera.
- Depending on which country you are trying to create an account in, you may also be asked for a state, prefecture, or similar location. You can choose from any of the dropdowns, just make sure you remember it as it will have to match the information we’ll add later.
- Continue filling out the registration form. When asked for an email address, make sure you are using one that is not associated with other PSN accounts.
- The next steps will require you to solve the CAPTCHA code and verify your email address. At this point, Google Translate comes in handy.
- The last form will ask you to add personal information. Be sure to fill in all required fields. This may include residential address, postal code, or similar information. This must be the real state / prefecture address you selected in step 5, so if you create a PSN account in Japan and set your preferred Tokyo location, then the address you enter must also be in Tokyo.
- One of the last steps is to set up your billing information, but if you don’t have a bank card that is suitable for international purchases (and are willing to pay the possible currency conversion fees), it’s best to skip this step and add funds to your account. later using PlayStation Store prepaid gift cards.
- Continue to the final steps – this usually includes accepting the terms of the service agreement (required), setting your contact preferences (you can choose whatever you want) and / or a PSN subscription (completely optional). And if you didn’t confirm your email address in step 6, make sure you do it now in order to access the PSN Store.
Access to the PlayStation Store
Once your new PSN account is set up and your email address is verified, you can access the PlayStation Store for your account region. This can be done in several ways:
- On PC or Mobile: You can sign in to your new PSN account on the PlayStation Store website . The store will automatically load with the regional / language settings of the account, and you can use your browser’s translation function if you need to interpret the text. (Note that you will need to sign in to your PSN account on PS4 / PS5 and verify your device before you can play games.)
- On PS4 / PS5: If you’ve created an account on PS4 or PS5, simply select it from the user list when turning on the console, then open the PlayStation Store app. If this is not the correct region, go to the tab and select the “…” icon, then “Store Region” and select the desired country from the list.
Whichever way you sign in, the PlayStation Store works the same for each region, so browsing shouldn’t be too difficult. And as long as you download free content, you don’t have to mess with billing information.
However, if you want to buy a game, DLC, or other items, you will need to add payment information.
As we mentioned in step 8 above, we recommend using PlayStation Store Gift Card Codes, which are available in various currencies through Play Asia . You can try using your own bank account or credit card, but only some payment methods are accepted internationally and most of them charge a conversion fee.
Playing games
The good news is that after you’ve downloaded your games to your console, you can play them. In most cases, you can play them using your main PSN profile, even if the account is registered in a country other than the country where you bought the game.
PS4 and PS5 aren’t the only consoles that you can also use your international PSN accounts on. It also works on PS3 and PS Vita and can be used to access their respective digital storefronts.
And if you own a Nintendo Switch, you can create an account with a Japanese or European online store to buy and play games not normally available in the US.
[ Android Central ]