Many Filipino gamers have long relied on the Turkey PlayStation Store as a workaround for buying games at lower prices, especially during major sales. Because of regional pricing and currency differences, games in the Turkish store often cost significantly less compared to other regions. This became popular in the Philippines partly because there is no official PlayStation Store region dedicated to the Philippines, forcing players to register accounts under other countries just to access digital purchases. As a result, using Turkey became a practical and for many, necessary option rather than just a way to save money.
Recently, however, reports have surfaced during the latest sale period indicating that locally issued foreign credit and debit cards, including those from the Philippines, are no longer being accepted in the Turkey PSN store. Members of the PlayStation Philippines Facebook group have shared their experiences, with one user noting, “GoTyme and Maya no longer work in Turkey,” and another adding, “Kahit anong card actually,” suggesting that the issue affects a wide range of payment methods. These firsthand accounts underscore the challenges Filipino gamers face due to the lack of an official PlayStation Store region for the Philippines, forcing them to rely on foreign stores that may change policies without notice.
At the moment, the remaining way for foreign users to buy from the Turkey store is through PSN wallet credits or gift card top-ups. The problem is that these often come with additional reseller fees, making them more expensive than direct card payments. In some cases, the extra cost reduces or completely removes the savings that made the Turkey store attractive in the first place. Availability of these credits can also fluctuate depending on demand.
If restrictions continue to tighten, more players may shift back to closer regions like Singapore or Hong Kong, even if prices are higher, simply for payment reliability and long-term account stability.