Can You Hide Trophies on PS4? The Definitive Guide
Yes, you can hide trophies on PS4. The PlayStation 4 offers several options to manage the privacy of your trophy collection. You can choose to hide specific games or your entire trophy list from other players. This guide will explore how to manage your trophy privacy settings on the PS4, delve into related questions, and provide a comprehensive understanding of the trophy system.
Understanding Trophy Privacy on PS4
The PS4’s trophy system is designed to celebrate your in-game achievements. Earning trophies can be a rewarding experience, but you might not always want others to see what you’ve been playing or how far you’ve progressed. Sony understands this, which is why they’ve implemented several privacy features.
Hiding Specific Games
One of the most useful features is the ability to hide specific games from your trophy list. This is particularly helpful if you’re playing a game you don’t want others to know about, or if you want to avoid spoilers for games others might be playing.
How to Hide Games:
- Go to Settings > Account Management > Privacy Settings, and select Hidden Games.
- Select the games you want to hide.
When a game is hidden, information about it won’t appear in your activities, profile, Now Playing, or trophy list as viewed by other players.
Setting Trophy Visibility by Game
You can also control trophy visibility on a game-by-game basis. This allows for a more granular approach to privacy.
How to Set Trophy Visibility:
- Select the game you want to configure.
- Press the Options button on your controller.
- Select Privacy Settings.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to set the desired privacy level.
Global Trophy Visibility Settings
The PS4 also offers a global setting that affects the visibility of all your trophies. This setting overrides individual game settings if configured to be more restrictive.
How to Set Global Trophy Visibility:
- Go to Settings > PlayStation™Network/Account Management > Privacy Settings.
- Select Show Trophies.
- Choose who can see your trophies:
- Anyone: Everyone can see your trophies.
- Friends Only: Only your friends can see your trophies.
- No One: No one can see your trophies.
If you select No One, this setting takes precedence, and no one will be able to see your trophies, regardless of individual game settings.
Viewing Hidden Trophies
Even though some trophies might be hidden by developers to prevent spoilers, you can reveal them on your console.
How to Reveal Hidden Trophies:
- Go to your trophies page.
- Select any hidden trophy.
- Press the Square button to reveal the trophy information.
This will show you the trophy’s name, description, and any associated artwork.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Can I delete trophy information for a game?
You can only delete trophy information for a game if you haven’t earned any trophies in that game yet. Once you earn a trophy, the game becomes permanently linked to your profile. Select your profile picture from the home screen, and then select Trophies. Select the game, press the options button and select Delete.
2. Does hiding games hide trophies earned within those games?
Yes, when you hide a game, information about the game, including the trophies you’ve earned, is hidden from other players’ view. This includes your activities, profile, Now Playing, and trophy list.
3. Can I turn off automatic trophy screenshots?
Yes, you can disable automatic screenshots when you earn a trophy. Go to Settings > Sharing and Broadcasts > Screenshot Settings and uncheck the Take Automatically When You Earn Trophy option.
4. Do PS4 trophies carry over to PS5?
Yes, your PS4 trophies carry over to your PS5. You may need to upload your saves from the PS4 game and download them on the PS5 version, especially for games that offer both versions. The GamesLearningSociety.org can provide more insight into the educational aspects of gaming.
5. Is there a way to permanently delete a game from my PSN account?
You cannot permanently delete a game from your purchase history on PSN. However, you can delete the game files from your PS4 console by selecting the game in your library, pressing the Options button, and choosing Delete.
6. Does PS4 have a trophy tracker?
Yes, the PS4 has a built-in trophy tracker. Your earned trophies are saved to the system and automatically synchronized with the PlayStation Network server. You can manually synchronize your trophies by pressing the OPTIONS button while viewing Trophies and selecting Sync with PlayStation Network.
7. Can I hide games on PS4 from specific friends only?
No, the PS4’s privacy settings do not allow you to hide games from specific friends. You can either hide the game from everyone or allow everyone (or only friends) to see it.
8. Can you hide trophies on PS5 similarly to PS4?
Yes, the PS5 also allows you to hide trophies. The settings are similar to the PS4. Go to Settings > PlayStation™Network > Privacy Settings and adjust your trophy visibility settings.
9. Will PlayStation ever let you delete trophies after they’ve been earned?
Currently, PlayStation does not allow you to delete trophies once they have been earned. The only exception is if you haven’t earned any trophies in a particular game.
10. Do PS4 trophies have any real-world value, like monetary rewards?
While PlayStation doesn’t directly pay for earning trophies, there have been instances of rewards programs offering points or discounts for earning trophies. However, this is not a standard feature.
11. Can I turn off trophy notifications on my PS4?
Yes, you can turn off trophy notifications by going to Settings > System Settings > Trophy Notifications and adjusting the display settings. This will prevent notifications from appearing when you earn a trophy.
12. Which PSN game has the most trophies?
The number of trophies varies by game and DLC. Games like Minecraft, DJMax Respect, and Hitman 2 are known for having a high number of trophies due to extensive DLC and updates.
13. What is the highest number of trophies earned by a single PlayStation user?
The record for the most PlayStation trophies won overall is held by “ikemenzi” (Kenji Ito), who has amassed over 237,838 trophies as of January 2023.
14. Do PS4 trophies affect gameplay or unlock any special features?
Trophies themselves don’t directly affect gameplay or unlock special features within the game. However, some games might reward you with in-game items or bonuses for achieving certain milestones, which are often tied to earning specific trophies.
15. How can I hide my PlayStation console in my living room to keep it out of sight?
You can hide your PlayStation console by placing it behind cane doors in a media console or entertainment unit. Cane doors allow for ventilation and remote signal pass-through while keeping the console out of sight.
Conclusion
Hiding trophies on PS4 is a straightforward process, offering different levels of privacy control. Whether you want to hide specific games or your entire trophy collection, the PS4 provides the tools to manage your privacy effectively. Understanding these settings can help you tailor your gaming experience to your preferences. To explore more about the social and emotional learning that happens through games, visit Games Learning Society.