Sony is removing over 1000 games from the PlayStation Store. Is it the end of "shovelware"?

Calendar 3/23/2026

Sony is starting to tidy up the PlayStation Store. The company has removed over 1000 low-quality games that have long been a problem for users. This mainly concerns so-called shovelware, which refers to productions created quickly, often without much effort and quality.

Mass Removal of Games from PlayStation Store

In recent weeks, Sony has removed hundreds of titles from various publishers. The hardest hit was Nostra Games, which had around 700 games in the store, mostly simulators. This is another such move; previously, nearly 1200 games from other creators had already disappeared. It is clear that Sony has started seriously tackling low-quality content. Some of the removed games were controversial due to the use of AI, while others simply flooded the store with repetitive ideas.

Creators Surprised by Sony's Decision

Interestingly, the publishers themselves aren't entirely sure why their games have disappeared. Nostra Games admitted that they haven't received a clear explanation from Sony. However, the company announces that it is not leaving the market and will continue to release games on other platforms, such as Xbox, Nintendo Switch, or Steam. Other studios, like CGI Lab, have also been affected by the removals, although to a lesser extent.

The shovelware problem has been growing for years, but it has recently accelerated due to the development of AI tools. Thanks to these, more and more games are being created that are cheap, quick to produce, and often very similar to each other. Some of them have also been used for easily obtaining trophies, which further diminishes the quality of the ecosystem. It seems that Sony now wants to restore a better standard of quality in its store.

Removing over 1000 games is a clear signal that Sony is starting to control what ends up in the PlayStation Store. If the company maintains this direction, the store could become more transparent and less flooded with low-quality productions.

source: mp1st.com

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