What was the online gaming service for the PlayStation 3 called?

The PlayStation 3’s online gaming and digital-services platform was called PlayStation Network.

Sony launched PlayStation Network in 2006 alongside the PlayStation 3. The service supported online multiplayer, downloadable games, game updates, digital purchases, messaging, and other network features. Unlike many competing console services at the time, basic PlayStation 3 online multiplayer did not require a paid subscription.

PlayStation Network was broader than online game matchmaking alone. It also connected users to the PlayStation Store, where they could buy digital games, downloadable content, themes, and other media. Account-based services allowed purchases and trophies to follow users across supported PlayStation devices.

The name is sometimes shortened to PSN, but “PlayStation Network” is the full official answer. It should not be confused with PlayStation Plus, a subscription service that Sony introduced in 2010 and later made important for online multiplayer on newer consoles.