Sony Will Now Slow US's PS4 Download Speeds To Help Internet Reliability

Update: Following word that Sony would slow download PSN speeds in Europe, the company has revealed it will now follow suit in the United States. This move goes into effect today, March 26, according to a post on the PlayStation Blog.

"Beginning today, we will take similar measures in the United States, and we will continue to take appropriate action to do our part to help ensure internet stability as this unprecedented situation continues to evolve," Sony's statement reads. "We are grateful for the role we play in helping deliver a sense of community and entertainment in these very trying times. Thank you again for your support, your patience, and for being part of the PlayStation community. Please stay home and stay safe."

Original Story: With internet usage growing due to social distancing during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Sony has announced plans intended to help mitigate the impact of the PlayStation Network on internet reliability in Europe. Specifically, Sony Interactive Entertainment president Jim Ryan has announced the company is "working with internet service providers in Europe to manage download traffic to help preserve access for the entire internet community."

While PS4 wasn't specifically cited, it's undoubtedly PS4 users that represent the bulk of SIE's network traffic. (Recent weeks have seen some massive updates and game download sizes, including those of Call of Duty: Warzone and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare.) However, while downloads themselves may be slower, it doesn't sound as if European PSN users shouldn't expect online gameplay to be impacted.

"Players may experience somewhat slower or delayed game downloads but will still enjoy robust gameplay," Ryan explained in a PlayStation Blog post. "We appreciate the support and understanding from our community, and their doing their part, as we take these measures in an effort to preserve access for everyone."

"We believe it is important to do our part to address internet stability concerns as an unprecedented number of people are practicing social distancing and are becoming more reliant on internet access," Ryan added.

This news comes after the European Union's Internal Market and Services Commissioner, Thierry Breton, requested streaming services also take steps to reduce their impact on the internet. Subsequently, Netflix announced plans to do just that. At this point, Sony has not announced plans to enact similar measures elsewhere, including North America.