How to Play PlayStation Games That Aren't Available in the US

Some of the coolest PlayStations Games That Aren’t Available in the US , but you can still play them.

PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 are popular all over the world, but not all games can be released in all countries at the same time. There are many games that never made it out of Japan, or were released in the UK or Europe before the US (and vice versa). Some countries, like Australia and Germany, have strict content laws, so many games that have received the “M for Mature” mark in North America are completely banned, but there are ways around the block.

Although you can import physical copies of regional games and play discs on your console, the easiest option is to get digital copies directly to your PS4 or PS5 through the PlayStation Store in another country. You need to create a new PSN account associated with the country / region of the online PSN store you are trying to access, which will take time to set up; you may need to use additional apps like Google Translate to help you. but it is better than from abroad. Importing games is easier (and generally cheaper and faster).

Of course, there are some restrictions: You can only access the paid DLC with the account that purchased it, and certain online features require an account with the correct location settings. Oh, unless the game comes with an English option, you may not be able to understand what happened in the story or read the game menu (although if the game is popular enough, translation guides and tutorials can be provided ). But outside of these restrictions, you can use your US account to freely play full games, demos, and even use system themes that you purchased from the PlayStation Store in Japan or Europe.

Create a regional PSN account

We recommend doing this part on a desktop with Google Chrome, because the browser can automatically translate web pages, which will make the process easier if you try to create an account for a country with a different language. However, this can also be done directly on your PS4 or PS5 or on your smartphone.

If you’re signing up on desktop or mobile: go to https://id.sonyentertainmentnetwork.com/signin/#/signin?entry=%2Fsignin and click “Create account.” If you’re signing up on PS4 or PS5: create a new account from the login screen when you boot up the console.
Fill out the registration form. When you enter the page asking about your country/region, select the country/region you want from the drop-down box. For example, if you are trying to visit a Japanese PSN store, select “Japan”.
The page will reload according to the selected country. The language of the page can also be changed. If you use Google Chrome on your desktop, the browser will ask you if you want to translate the page (or depending on your settings, it can automatically translate the text). You can also right-click anywhere on the page and select “Translate to English”. If your browser can’t translate for you, or you’re logging into the console, try using Google Translate on your phone, because the app can translate text from your phone’s camera.
Depending on the country you are trying to create an account for, you may also need to provide a state, county, or similar location. You can choose any drop-down list, but please remember it because it needs to match the information we will add later.
Continue to fill out the registration form. When you are asked to provide an email address, be sure to use an email address that is not related to other PSN accounts.
The following steps require you to parse the verification code and verify your email address. Google Translate will help in this step.
The last form will ask you to add personal information. Be sure to provide answers for all required fields. This can include residential address, postal code or similar information. It must be the actual address of the state / county you selected in step 5, so if you are creating a Japanese PSN account and you set your preferred location in Tokyo, the address you enter must also be in Tokyo.
The last step is to set up your payment information, but unless you have a bank card suitable for international purchases (and are willing to pay potential currency conversion fees), it is best to skip this step and add funds to use the PlayStation Store the gift card later Go to your account.
Proceed to the final steps – this typically includes accepting the terms of the service agreement (required), setting your contact preferences (you can choose whatever you want), and / or subscribing to a PSN (completely optional). If you didn’t verify your email in step 6, make sure to do so now so you can access the PSN store.

Accessing the PlayStation Store

Once you have set up a new PSN account and verified your email address, you can access the PlayStation Store in the region where your account is located. This can be done in several ways:

On PC or mobile: You can log in with your new PSN account on the PlayStation Store website. The store will automatically load the account language / region preferences. If you need to translate the text, you can use the translation function of the browser. (Please note that you need to log in and verify the device with your PSN account on PS4 / PS5 before you can play.)
On PS4/PS5: If you made the account on your PS4 or PS5, just select it from the user list when you turn on the console, then open the PlayStation Store app. If it’s not the correct region, tab over and select the “…” icon, then “Shop Region,” and select the proper country from the list.

Regardless of how you log in, the PlayStation Store in each region is laid out the same, so navigating shouldn’t be too difficult. As long as you download free content, you don’t have to mess up your payment information.

However, if you want to purchase games, DLC, or other items, you must add your payment information.

As mentioned in step 8 above, we recommend using PlayStation Store gift card codes Play Asia provides gift card codes in various currencies. You can try using your own bank account or credit card, but only certain payment methods are accepted internationally, and most will charge a conversion fee.

Playing the PlayStation Games That Aren’t Available in the US

The good news is that after downloading the game to the console, you can play it. In most cases, you can play with them using your main PSN profile, even if the account is registered in a country different from the country you purchased.

PS4 and PS5 are not the only hosts that can use international PSN accounts. It also works on PS3 and PS Vita, and can be used to access their respective digital storefronts.

If you have a Nintendo Switch, you can create a Japanese or European eShop account to buy and play PlayStation Games That Aren’t Available in the US.