US vs. Saudi PSN: What is the Difference Between US and Saudi PlayStation Accounts?

Before you hit the “Create Account” button on your new PlayStation, stop for a moment.

This decision is the most critical step in your journey with the console, simply because Sony does not allow you to change your account region later.

If you choose a US account, you are locked into the US region forever. If you choose a Saudi account, you stay Saudi forever.

So, what is the US vs Saudi PlayStation Account, which is better? Should you choose the US account for cheaper prices and a complete library? Or the Saudi account for Arabic language support?

In this guide, we will conduct a frank comparison between the two accounts to help you make a decision you won’t regret years down the line.

What is the Concept of “Region” on PlayStation?

Before comparing, we must correct a common misconception. PlayStation consoles (Hardware) are Region Free; meaning a console bought in the US will play a game disc bought in Japan without issues.

However, the PlayStation Network (PSN) Account is Region Locked.

The digital Store that appears to you is entirely tied to the country you selected during registration.

What does this mean practically?

• Content: What appears in the US Store might not appear in the Saudi Store.
• Currency: The US account only accepts Dollars (USD), and the Saudi account only accepts Riyals (SAR).
• Redemption: Gift card codes are geographically locked; you cannot use a $20 US card on a Saudi account.

Which is Cheaper the US Store or the Saudi Store?

The primary driver for any gamer is saving money. The US Store has long been the epitome of cheap prices, but the situation now requires a closer analysis:

The Saudi Store (Store SA): The Safe & Convenient Option

This is the default choice for most players in the Kingdom and the Gulf, and it has seen massive improvements in recent years.

1. Technical & Linguistic Support

• Full Arabic Support: This is the deciding factor for many. When buying from the Saudi Store, you are 100% guaranteed that the version you download contains Arabic files (menus, subtitles, and dubbing) if the game supports it. Conversely, US versions of some games (like older Ubisoft or Sony titles) might lack Arabic files.
• Ease of Payment: The store is integrated with the local financial system. You can use local cards, local credit cards, and sometimes direct carrier billing without needing intermediaries.

2. The Downsides: Censorship & Pricing

• Content Policies (Censorship): The Saudi Store adheres to local media regulations. This means games with explicit scenes or controversial themes might be banned completely (like the GTA series previously) or a “clean,” modified version is released, which might affect your narrative experience.
• Prices & Taxes: Purchases are subject to VAT, and the “base price” of a game in Riyals is often slightly higher than its direct Dollar equivalent.

The US Store (Store US): The Pro’s Choice & Savings

The US Store is the largest globally and is the top destination for gamers seeking early access and financial savings.

1. The Benefits: Freedom & Massive Library

• Complete Library: In the US Store, you get the game exactly as the developer designed it. No bans, no deleted scenes, and no release delays due to clearance procedures.
• Powerful Sales: The US Store features aggressive seasonal discounts (Black Friday, Holiday Sale, Golden Week). You often find older games for nominal prices (under $5), plus rare bundles that might not reach other stores.
• PlayStation Plus Premium Services: If you subscribe to the top tier, Cloud Streaming is supported with high efficiency in the US account, whereas it is unsupported in Arab accounts (replaced by the cheaper “Deluxe” tier).

Read more about What are the Differences Between the PlayStation Plus Tiers

2. The Downsides: Payment Hurdles & Language

• Address Verification System: The US Store rejects any credit card not issued by a US bank. You cannot use your Saudi or Emirati card there directly.
• Language Risk: As mentioned, while most modern games are global, there is always a risk of buying a game and discovering it is English-only because the North American version did not include Arabic files.

US vs Saudi PlayStation Account

How to Solve Payment Issues in US and Saudi Accounts?

Whether you choose US or Saudi, you might face payment hurdles:

• In the US Account: The security system will reject any credit card (Visa/Mastercard) issued by an Arab bank because the billing address does not match.
• In the Saudi Account: Despite accepting cards, many users prefer not to link their primary bank card to the console to avoid potential hacks or unexpected auto-renewals at high prices.

How to Pay in the US Account Safely?

Since Arab bank cards are rejected in the US system, you have one official and safe outlet: Gift Cards.

To avoid shady sites or those selling stolen codes that might get your account banned, follow these steps to buy via Kascards:

1. Go to the Kascards platform and select the PlayStation section.
   
2. Crucial Step: Ensure you select “US Store (USA)”. (Buying a Saudi card for a US account will not work).
3. Select the card value that covers the game or subscription price.
   
4. Pay using Digital Currencies (USDT) to ensure privacy and speed.

Read More about Step-by-step topping up your PlayStation cards through kascards

Why Not Have Both?

Why put yourself in a dilemma when Sony’s system allows you to own both?

1. Create a Saudi Account as your Primary: Play on it, collect trophies, and use it to buy games that require Arabic language support or online matchmaking (like FIFA).
2. Create a Secondary US Account on the same console: Use it strictly to buy games you specifically want from that region, or cheap single-player games during big sales.
3. The Magic Step: Log into the US Account > Settings > Users and Accounts > Other > Console Sharing and Offline Play > Enable.

The Result: Any game you buy and download from the US account will immediately appear on the main menu. You can log out of the US account, switch to your Saudi account, and play the game as if you bought it locally!

FAQ

1. Can I change the PlayStation account region after creating it?

No, this is absolutely impossible. Sony’s policy does not allow changing the account region once selected during registration. The only solution to change the store is to create a completely new account and select the country you want (e.g., USA). You can then use both accounts on the same console.

Read more about Can You Change the Region on PlayStation Store?

2. Does a US Store card work on a Saudi account?

No, PlayStation cards are Region Locked.

• A US Store card (in Dollars) works only on accounts with a US address.
• A Saudi Store card (in Riyals) works only on Saudi accounts. Therefore, always ensure you buy the card that matches your account’s flag and country from Kascards.

3. Which is Cheaper the US Store or the Saudi Store

Generally, yes. The US Store is characterized by fixed official launch prices for games, and taxes are often not added (depending on the US state you select). Additionally, seasonal offers and discounts in the US Store are usually deeper and more comprehensive.

4. Are DLCs (Add-ons) region-locked?

Yes, and this is the most important technical point to watch out for. For the DLC to work, the region of the game disc must match the region of your digital account. Example: If you bought a game disc from Saudi Arabia (European/Middle Eastern version), you must buy the DLC from the Saudi account. If you buy it from the US account, the DLC will not work.

5. Does the US Store support the Arabic language?

It is not 100% guaranteed. Although most modern games are global and include Arabic in all stores, there are games (especially from companies like Ubisoft or older Sony exclusives) that are released in the US Store in English and European languages only. To ensure Arabic availability (dubbing and subtitles), the Saudi account is the safest choice.

6. Are games banned in the Saudi Store?

Yes, the Saudi Store adheres to local laws and regulations of the General Commission for Audiovisual Media (GCAM). Accordingly, some games containing inappropriate content may be banned from sale completely, or special “modified and sanitized” versions may be released for the Saudi market that differ from the full global version found in the US Store.

The Bottom Line

The choice depends on your priorities as a gamer:

Choose the Saudi Account if you seek total comfort, don’t mind paying a small price difference, and Arabic language support is your top priority.

Choose the US Account if you seek financial savings and want access to every game in the world without censorship restrictions.