PlayStation streamers who care about trophies usually fall into one of two camps: those who track progress manually, and those who use a PSN Trophy Overlay to display achievements automatically on stream.

Both approaches work — but they offer very different streaming experiences.

This page breaks down the differences between manual trophy tracking and trophy overlays, so streamers can decide which option fits their content style and goals.

What Is Manual Trophy Tracking?

Manual trophy tracking means the streamer handles progress visibility themselves. This usually involves:

• Pausing gameplay to open the PlayStation trophy menu

• Updating on-screen text manually

• Verbally explaining trophy progress to viewers

This approach requires no additional tools, but it relies heavily on the streamer’s attention and timing.

What Is a PSN Trophy Overlay?

A PSN Trophy Overlay automatically displays PlayStation trophy progress on stream in real time.

Instead of opening menus or updating text, the overlay:

• Pulls trophy data from a PSN profile

• Displays progress visually during gameplay

• Triggers alerts when trophies unlock

• Runs through OBS or Streamlabs as a browser source

One example is the PSN Trophy Overlay from Crusafitch Productions, which shows live trophy progress, animated alerts, and stats without interrupting gameplay.
👉 https://crusafitchproductions.com/pages/psn-trophy-overlay