If you are currently using the "Communities" feature on your PS4, then we have bad news for you; Sony has confirmed it will end the service soon.
Sony to Close PlayStation Communities
Sadly, as confirmed in a PlayStation.com notice, Sony is shelving the "Communities" feature of its PlayStation ecosystem as of April 2021. The notice reads:
Thank you for using the PS Communities feature on your PS4 console. Beginning in April 2021, this feature will no longer be supported or available on your PS4 console.
So, not much of an explanation, really. Although some might say they saw this coming.
Why Is Sony Closing PlayStation Communities?
Sony closed support for its PlayStation Communities mobile app in March 2020. You can see this via the above linked page. So this probably doesn't come as a surprise to people who previously used the Communities app.
Why Sony has done this remains a mystery. The above notice continues:
However, you'll still be able to stay connected and enjoy messaging features and more on your PS4 and the PlayStation App.
So, obviously Sony wants you to make more use of the Messenger function that is available across devices, both natively on the console and on the PlayStation mobile app.
What Is the PlayStation Communities Feature?
Sony has the answer to that on the PS4 User Guide's About Communities page. It says:
Communities are places where you can find players who have similar interests and preferences. You can play games or have parties with other Community members, or talk about your shared interests within that Community.
So, if you wanted to party up with people who play the same title as you, you can. Well, until April, anyway. This service is only available on PS4; PS5 users will never have seen it on their console.
If you want to grab a last bit of PlayStation Communities action before the service retires, then it is still possible. If you struggle to find other players for certain games, this might help you party up.
How Do You Join a PlayStation Community?
There probably isn't much point in creating your own PlayStation Community, as it will only last a short time. However, PS4 users can still access Communities.
- Select Communtites from the Function screen.
- Search for or select a community you want to join.
- Click Join Community
You will now be a member of that community and can chat and play with other members until April 2021, when Sony shelves the app.
Are You a PlayStation Communities User?
If so, you're probably going to miss the feature. While Sony shelved the dedicated app for Communities, it still seems a little odd that it would close the service down entirely. This is a great way to meet strangers who are like-minded players of the same titles.
Unless Sony expands the PlayStation messages function so you can link up and party chat with strangers from inside the service, how are gamers otherwise going to build a community around the games that they play?