Big news just dropped in the PlayStation world. After dataminers spotted mysterious symbols in the PlayStation Store backend, reliable industry insider billbil-kun from Dealabs has now confirmed that Sony is indeed working on some kind of Cross-Buy feature. This could be huge for anyone who games on both PlayStation and PC.
What Is Cross-Buy Anyway?
If you’re wondering what all the fuss is about, Cross-Buy is basically a system that lets you purchase a game once and play it across multiple platforms. Think of it like buying a movie on iTunes and being able to watch it on your iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV without paying three times.
Microsoft has been doing this for years with their Xbox Play Anywhere program. Buy a supported game on Xbox, and you automatically get the PC version too. Sony actually had something similar back in the PS Vita days, where certain games you bought on PS3 or PS4 would also work on the handheld Vita. But that program quietly disappeared when the Vita did.
How This Leak Came to Light
The whole thing started when a dataminer named Amethxst poked around in the PlayStation Store code and found several new icons that hadn’t been there before. Among them was a clear “Cross-Buy” symbol, along with graphics showing PS5 and PC together. The icons weren’t just random images either – they were properly coded into Sony’s official system, complete with unique identifiers.
Naturally, people were skeptical at first. But then billbil-kun stepped in. For those who don’t follow PlayStation leaks, this person has an incredibly accurate track record. They’ve correctly predicted PS Plus monthly games, sales events, and other PlayStation announcements months in advance. When billbil-kun investigated and confirmed the Cross-Buy symbols were legitimate and had been added to the PlayStation backend as far back as June 2025, people started paying attention.
What Could This Mean for Gamers?
Here’s where things get interesting. Sony has been slowly bringing more of their exclusive games to PC over the past few years. God of War, Spider-Man, The Last of Us, Horizon – all these former PlayStation exclusives eventually made it to Steam. But you’ve always had to buy them separately on each platform.
If Sony implements Cross-Buy between PS5 and PC, you might be able to buy, say, the next God of War game on your PlayStation 5 and automatically get access to the PC version when it launches. Or vice versa. That’s a game-changer for people who own both a gaming PC and a PS5.
There’s another possibility that’s got people talking. Sony is rumored to be working on a proper PlayStation handheld – not the streaming-only Portal device they released, but an actual portable gaming system that can run games natively. If that’s real, Cross-Buy could mean buying a game once and playing it on your home PS5, your PC, and your portable PlayStation device.
The Big Questions Nobody Can Answer Yet
Of course, Sony hasn’t officially announced anything, so we’re all just speculating based on leaked backend code. Even if Cross-Buy is coming, there are huge questions about how it would actually work.
Would it only apply to first-party Sony games, or could third-party publishers opt in? Would it be retroactive for games already released on both platforms, or only for future releases? Would Sony launch their own PC game launcher to manage this, or would they somehow work with existing stores like Steam and Epic? And most importantly, would games launch simultaneously on both platforms, or would PS5 versions still get that period of exclusivity?
The other consideration is money. Sony makes a significant amount from double-dipping – people who buy the same game on console and then again on PC. Creating a Cross-Buy system would cut into those sales. On the flip side, it could encourage more people to stay within the PlayStation ecosystem if they know their purchases will follow them across devices.
Why This Matters Beyond Just Saving Money
Beyond the obvious benefit of not having to pay twice for the same game, a proper Cross-Buy system could change how people approach their gaming setup. Right now, you might hesitate to buy a multiplayer game on PC if all your friends play on PlayStation, or vice versa. With Cross-Buy, that decision becomes less stressful – buy it once, play wherever makes sense at the moment.
It would also make PlayStation more competitive with what Microsoft is doing with Xbox. The gaming industry is slowly moving away from strict platform exclusivity, and Sony implementing Cross-Buy would be a big step in acknowledging that reality. Gamers increasingly want flexibility, and companies that provide it tend to win loyalty.
When Might We Actually See This?
That’s the million-dollar question. The symbols were apparently added to the backend in June 2025, but that doesn’t mean Sony is ready to announce anything publicly. Companies often test features internally long before they’re ready for prime time, and plans can always change or get scrapped entirely.
If I had to guess, Sony might wait for a major event to announce something this significant. The Game Awards in December would be perfect, or they could save it for a State of Play presentation early next year. Or they might just quietly roll it out without much fanfare and let the feature speak for itself.
FAQs
What is PlayStation Cross-Buy?
Cross-Buy is a system that would let you purchase a game once and play it across multiple platforms. In this case, buying a game on PS5 might automatically give you access to the PC version, or vice versa, without having to pay twice.
Has Sony confirmed Cross-Buy is coming?
No, Sony has not made any official announcement. The information comes from datamined code in the PlayStation Store backend that was verified by reliable leaker billbil-kun. The icons exist in Sony’s system, but we don’t know their exact purpose or release timeline yet.
Did PlayStation have Cross-Buy before?
Yes, Sony offered Cross-Buy during the PS Vita era. If you bought certain games on PS3 or PS4, you would automatically get the PS Vita version for free, and vice versa. This feature was phased out after the Vita was discontinued.
Would Cross-Buy work on Steam and Epic Games Store?
That’s unknown. Sony would need to figure out how to implement Cross-Buy with third-party PC storefronts, or they might create their own PlayStation launcher for PC games. No details have been confirmed about the technical implementation.
Is this related to the rumored PlayStation handheld?
Possibly. Some industry watchers believe Cross-Buy might be designed for a rumored PS6 handheld device that Sony is supposedly developing. This would let you buy games once and play them on your home console, PC, and portable PlayStation device.
Will old games be included in Cross-Buy?
Nobody knows yet. It’s unclear if Cross-Buy would only apply to new releases going forward, or if Sony would retroactively include games that are already available on both PS5 and PC.
When will Sony announce Cross-Buy officially?
There’s no confirmed date. Sony might announce it at a major gaming event like The Game Awards or a State of Play presentation, but they could also quietly implement it without a big announcement. Since the backend code was added months ago, an announcement could come anytime.
Conclusion
The confirmation of Cross-Buy symbols in PlayStation’s backend is exciting news for gamers who play on multiple platforms. Whether it turns out to be a full Xbox Play Anywhere competitor or something designed specifically for a new PlayStation handheld, the mere fact that Sony is working on some form of cross-platform purchasing shows they’re listening to what gamers want. We’ll have to wait for official word from Sony to know exactly what they’re planning, but the groundwork is clearly being laid for something interesting. For now, keep an eye on PlayStation’s official channels and reliable leakers like billbil-kun for updates as this story develops.