The PlayStation ( R ) Network is an emergent entertainment network aimed at digitally delivering innovative content and fostering community for a worldwide audience . The PlayStation ( R ) Network is the gateway to the PlayStation ( R ) Store , PlayStation.com , and PlayStation ( R ) Home . In addition to offering new and original forms of entertainment , the PlayStation ( R ) Network supports free and community-centric online gameplay , communications tools , and PSP ( R ) ( PlayStation ( R ) Portable ) and PLAYSTATION ( R ) 3 connectivity . As of December 2008 , the PlayStation ( R ) Network has more than 17M registered accounts worldwide .