As of now, there is no top-level domain (TLD) specifically designated as “.PLAYSTATION”. A top-level domain refers to the last segment of a domain name, or the part that follows immediately after the “dot” symbol. Examples of TLDs include .com, .org, .net, .gov, among others.
Top-level domain types are specifically categorized into classes. Generic top-level domains (gTLD) include TLDs such as .com, .org, .net, .info. Sponsored top-level domains (sTLD) include .gov, .edu, .mil. Meanwhile, country-code top-level domains (ccTLD) correspond to a country, territory, or special administrative area, like .uk for the United Kingdom, .jp for Japan or .eu for the European Union.
Brands and organizations can apply for their brand-specific TLD, categorizing them under gTLDs, known as dotBrands. For example, Google has .google, and Barclays has .barclays as their brand TLDs (source: ICANN).
ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, is the sole entity in charge of assigning and managing TLDs in the internet namespace schema worldwide. According to their list of delegated TLDs, there is currently no .playstation TLD assigned to Sony, the company that owns PlayStation.
The process of obtaining a brand-specific TLD involves steps overseen by ICANN. The primary criteria for the new gTLD application include technical operations, financial competency, and an upfront cost of $185,000 per application, with additional costs for successful applicants (source: ICANN).
If Sony wished to acquire a .playstation TLD, they would need to meet ICANN’s application requirements and participate in ICANN’s next application round, the timing of which has not been decided yet. ICANN’s last new gTLD application period occurred in 2012, and as per their update in October 2021, there’s a series of steps that are needed before the next round happens.
To date, some video game companies have invested in brand-specific TLDs. For example, Nexon Corporation—the South Korean-Japanese video game publisher—has its own .nexon TLD. Similarly, Square Enix Holdings Co., Ltd., the Japanese video game developer, publisher, and distribution company, owns .squareenix (source: ICANN).
In terms of business benefits, owning a brand TLD, like .playstation, provides companies with the opportunity for greater brand control, security, and customization of their digital assets. Furthermore, it can also enhance the consumer perception of the brand.
Sources:
1. ICANN. gTLD Applicant Guidebook. https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/applicants/agb
2. ICANN. Delegated Strings. https://newgtlds.icann.org/en/program-status/delegated-strings
3. ICANN. Preliminary Issue Report on the New gTLD Subsequent Procedures. https://www.icann.org/public-comments/new-gtld-subsequent-prelim-2015-08-31-en
4. Authentic Web Inc. Brand TLDs vs .com. https://authenticweb.com/brandtlds-vs-com/
