Sony PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4 getting passkey support

The Sony PlayStation 5, or simply the PS5, is one of the most popular gaming consoles out there right now. However, with a lot of games going digital unlike a decade ago, many PlayStation gamers need to log in to their PlayStation Network account before they can actually game.

Unfortunately, this means another account and complex password for users to remember, as if we don’t have enough of those already! This is precisely why companies like Microsoft and WhatsApp are quickly switching from passwords to passkeys, which are both easier to use and more secure. Now, Sony is set to be the next brand to make the switch.

As per a new announcement Sony has formally announced passkey support for the Sony PS5 as well as the PS4. This will give gamers a new way to bypass the old login page, which can be cumbersome to use, and that is if you remember your password to begin with.

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“We believe passkeys are the next step in offering our community a more convenient and more secure way to sign in and access all of the great experiences PlayStation has to offer,” the company said in its announcement.

Sony PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 users will now see a new “Sign in with Passkey” option on the login page.

What are passkeys?

Passkeys are different from passwords. While passwords use an approach where the system will look for a particular combination of characters on both sides (the user and a server) and only then allow for a successful login.

Passkeys, on the other hand, use a private cryptographic key to unlock access to a website. These keys never leave your device, and are not duplicated on the server side.

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In simpler words, instead of two same keys, one on your end and one on the server, passkeys give you one key and the server, a lock that will only open with that unique key. This works without any manual entering of characters.

If you still like to use passwords the old-fashioned way though, there is no need to worry just yet. Sony is still keeping the option to log in via passwords for now.