Many PlayStation fans are reporting that the avatars they own for PSN are disappearing. PlayStation gamers using old PSN avatars may want to avoid changing them, as that may be the only thing preventing them from vanishing.

These days, gamers on PlayStation have a lot more options for their profile pictures, as they can set just about anything to be the profile picture their close friends see. However, with the older consoles, avatars were the only option, and the only ones available were either the free selection or those users purchased or redeemed through the store. Free PSN avatars are still made available on occasion, though purchasable avatars are no longer a thing on PS5 consoles. However, those who own the older ones have been able to continue using them, at least until now.

It seems that may be changing, though, as numerous PlayStation users are reporting that their old avatars from the PS3 era are disappearing. The issue seems to apply to both purchased and redeemed avatars from that console generation. Many of those who still use PS3-era avatars have said that the only one they still have access to is the one they have equipped. Players in a similar situation should refrain from changing their avatars, as it seems like swapping will lead to those being lost, as well.

Plenty of fans are coming out in droves to complain about this issue. Since most gamers who have moved from one PlayStation generation to the next have carried over their accounts, there are many fans who previously had access to some of these avatars, and they’re now gone. One gamer pointed out that this issue has been going on for at least a month and hasn’t been addressed or resolved by PlayStation, while another said that they contacted support, but they weren’t able to help them recover the avatars. Players can set their profile pictures to something similar to the PSN avatars they have lost, but those aren’t displayed universally, so it’s not the same thing.

At this point, it’s unclear if these losses are due to a glitch or if Sony has quietly phased out these old icons. However, it’s understandable for gamers to be upset about it. Many fans have carried these avatars on their accounts for nearly 20 years, and some spent actual cash acquiring them back in the day. This may also be adding further irritation to the community at large, considering that gamers have been up in arms about games being taken offline or otherwise being made unplayable. While an avatar is relatively minor compared to a full game, it’s an active reminder that players don’t actually own their digital purchases, which is a notable sore spot in the gaming community.