If you’re wondering what a non-NFT digital collectible is, just ask Sony. According to PlayStation.com, “PlayStation Stars will feature a new type of rewards called digital collectibles. They are digital representations of all the things that PlayStation fans enjoy, including figurines of beloved and iconic characters from games and other forms of entertainment, as well as cherished devices that tap into Sony’s history of innovation.”
OK, so then they are badges, right? No, they’re “digital collectibles.” Wait. So… they are just digital images and some 3D animations, right? No, Sony says they are “digital collectibles.” You collect them, then you use them to get rewards from Sony. So… it’s a loyalty program with some digital images and 3D animations to represent your PlayStation rewards status? Well, I guess that’s right.
All kidding aside, Sony is doing a non-blockchain-based digital collectibles program, and it’s an important program to watch. Sony is “the” central authority for all things PlayStation, and they don’t necessarily need a decentralized platform (blockchain) to create and execute a loyalty program using digital collectibles. In fact, you can argue that whatever Web2 tech they are using will be faster and more secure than anything they could create using current Web3 tools. We’ll see.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.