PlayStation to slow downloads in the US to protect internet amid coronavirus lockdown

An attendee plays a video game on the PlayStation 4 video game console in the Sony Interactive Entertainment booth during the Tokyo Game Show 2018 on September 20, 2018 in Chiba, Japan (Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)

Sony will throttle game downloads in the US in an attempt to protect the internet.

The company is just the latest to introduce new measures intended to keep the increased traffic during the coronavirus lockdown can be handled by the infrastructure of the internet.

Numerous services including Sony as well as Netflix, Amazon Prime and YouTube have already introduced similar measures across Europe.

But it said the same changes would now be made in the US as well.

Sony suggested that further restrictions could come in the future, telling players that it "will continue to take appropriate action to do our part to help ensure internet stability as this unprecedented situation continues to evolve".

"We are grateful for the role we play in helping deliver a sense of community and entertainment in these very trying times," said Jim Ryan, president and chief executive of Sony Interactive Entertainment. "Thank you again for your support, your patience, and for being part of the PlayStation community. Please stay home and stay safe."

In an earlier post, when Sony announced the measures were coming to Europe, Mr Ryan said that users would still get "robust gameplay" despite the slowing in downloads.

"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," he wrote.

"Players may experience somewhat slower or delayed game downloads but will still enjoy robust gameplay. 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."