If you’ve been waiting for Sony to make your gaming life easier, this leak might be exactly what you wanted to hear. A dataminer just uncovered a hidden cross-buy icon buried in PlayStation 5 system files, and it’s got everyone wondering if Sony is about to pull a Microsoft and let you buy games once for both PS5 and PC.
What Exactly Did the Leak Reveal
The discovery came from a well-known dataminer who goes by Amethxst on X (formerly Twitter). They found several never-before-seen icons in PlayStation’s backend systems, including ones labeled “Cross-Buy” and “PS5/PC.” These aren’t just random images someone made up. They match Sony’s official design language and even come with unique Unicode codes that range from EF5B to EF61.
What makes this particularly interesting is that these icons showed up sometime between March and late October 2025. They’re visible on PS5 systems but completely absent from PS4, which suggests Sony has something specific in mind for its current-gen console. Amethxst even posted a video showing the icons working directly on a PS5 interface to prove they’re legit.
What Cross-Buy Could Mean for PlayStation Players
The most obvious explanation is that Sony wants to compete with Xbox’s Play Anywhere program. Right now, if you want to play a PlayStation game on both your PS5 and PC, you need to buy it twice. That’s frustrating, especially when Microsoft has been letting Xbox players buy once and play on both platforms for years.
If Sony implements this feature, you could purchase a game on PlayStation Store and automatically get access to it on PC, or vice versa. That would be a massive win for gamers who split their time between console and computer gaming. Games like God of War, Horizon Forbidden West, and Spider-Man have already made their way to PC through Steam and Epic Games Store, so the groundwork is already there.
Could Sony Launch Its Own PC Storefront
Here’s where things get really interesting. Some industry watchers think this cross-buy feature could be tied to a dedicated PlayStation PC launcher. Sony has been quietly expanding its PC presence, but all its games currently sell through Steam or Epic. A PlayStation Store for PC would give Sony more control and keep more of the profits.
The challenge is that Steam absolutely dominates PC gaming. Convincing players to switch to yet another launcher is tough, especially when they already have libraries on Steam, Epic, GOG, and others. But the promise of cross-buy could be the incentive Sony needs. Buy it on PS5, play it on PC through PlayStation’s launcher without paying twice. That’s a compelling pitch.
The Handheld Connection Nobody’s Talking About
There’s another theory floating around that’s equally exciting. Sony has been rumored to be working on a proper handheld console, something more substantial than the PlayStation Portal that launched recently. The Portal only does Remote Play, but a true portable PlayStation would benefit enormously from a cross-buy system.
Imagine buying a game once and being able to play it on your PS5 at home, your PC when you’re at your desk, and a handheld PlayStation when you’re traveling. That kind of ecosystem flexibility would put Sony in a much stronger position against Nintendo’s Switch and whatever Microsoft is cooking up in the portable space.
The Boring But Possible Explanation
Before we get too excited, there’s a much less thrilling possibility. Sony might just be adding visual indicators for games that already offer free PS4 to PS5 upgrades. Many games let you buy the PS4 version and upgrade to PS5 at no extra cost, and Sony has never had a clear way to communicate that in the store.
Adding a cross-buy icon to clarify which games include both versions would be helpful, but it’s nowhere near as exciting as PC integration or handheld support. The fact that these icons don’t appear on PS4 systems makes this explanation less likely, but it’s still on the table.
When Will We Know for Sure
Sony hasn’t said a word about any of this. The icons are clearly in the system, and they’re clearly official, but that doesn’t mean we’ll see them in action anytime soon. Companies test features all the time that never make it to public release. Still, it’s hard to imagine Sony going through the trouble of creating official icons with Unicode support if they didn’t plan to use them eventually.
The timing is interesting too. Sony has been expanding its PC strategy aggressively over the past few years, and with more competition heating up in the gaming space, offering better value to players makes sense. Cross-buy could be a key differentiator that keeps PlayStation fans loyal while attracting new players who want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is cross-buy for PlayStation?
Cross-buy would let you purchase a game once and play it on multiple PlayStation platforms, potentially including PS5, PC, and future devices like a handheld console. It’s similar to Xbox’s Play Anywhere program.
When will PlayStation cross-buy be available?
Sony hasn’t officially announced cross-buy yet. The feature was discovered through datamining in November 2025, but there’s no confirmed release date or even official acknowledgment from Sony.
Will cross-buy work with Steam games?
That’s unclear. Cross-buy might only work through Sony’s own PC launcher if they create one, or it could potentially integrate with existing platforms like Steam and Epic Games Store. We won’t know until Sony makes an official announcement.
Does Xbox already have cross-buy?
Yes, Xbox has offered a Play Anywhere program for several years that lets you buy certain games once and play them on both Xbox consoles and Windows PCs. PlayStation would be following a similar model if this feature launches.
Will old PlayStation games get cross-buy support?
There’s no information about whether existing games would be retroactively included in a cross-buy program. It would likely depend on publisher agreements and whether Sony negotiates to add older titles to the system.
Could this be related to a new PlayStation handheld?
It’s possible. Sony has been rumored to be working on a proper handheld console beyond the PlayStation Portal. A cross-buy system would make perfect sense for letting players access their games across console, PC, and portable devices.
Why would Sony create a PC launcher when Steam exists?
A dedicated PlayStation PC launcher would give Sony more control over pricing, user data, and profits. Cross-buy could be the incentive that convinces PC gamers to use Sony’s platform instead of Steam.
Conclusion
The discovery of PlayStation’s hidden cross-buy icons is one of those leaks that feels too significant to ignore. Whether Sony uses this feature for PC integration, a future handheld, or just better communication about PS4 to PS5 upgrades, something is clearly in the works. The gaming industry is moving toward more player-friendly ecosystems, and Sony would be smart to keep up with competitors who are already offering these conveniences. For now, all we can do is wait and hope that Sony makes the official announcement sooner rather than later. If cross-buy becomes reality, it could fundamentally change how PlayStation fans buy and play their games across multiple devices.