Sony tightens PS Store rules, thousands of games removed

Sony Interactive Entertainment has revised PlayStation Store publishing guidelines, Afil Games disclosed, prompting removal of thousands of low-effort titles and termination of contracts for dozens of developers.

Afil Games, a studio that reports it published nearly 1,000 low-effort games, wrote that Sony “officially implemented stricter game publishing guidelines.” Developers link recent, rolling delistings on the PS5 and PS4 storefronts to the policy change.

The removals have occurred nearly every week in recent weeks, according to affected studios and developer reports. Sony has not published the full text of the revised guidelines or provided an official tally of removed titles or terminated agreements.

Previously, Sony removed only prominent examples of shovelware after sustained player complaints, and some publishers later returned under different names. Developers and players had sought a process to block low-quality releases before they appeared on the storefront.

Afil Games and other developers report that enforcement has led to dozens of publishers losing their agreements. Afil Games indicated more titles could be delisted over time as the new standards are applied to existing contracts.

Shovelware refers to quickly made, low-budget games with limited gameplay and originality. Developers report the revised rules aim to raise entry standards for publishers and reduce the volume of such releases on the PlayStation Store.

Sony has not issued a public comment on the revised rules or the scale of the removals. Enforcement activity on the PS Store has continued while studios address the updated publishing requirements.