Sony Takes Action Against Shovelware, Removing Over 1,000 Titles from PlayStation Store

Shopping on the PlayStation Store just got a bit easier, as Sony has removed over 1,000 low-quality games from two companies. This marks the second major cleanup the platform has seen this year.

Console stores have been struggling with an influx of subpar games lately, and the PlayStation Store is no exception. Navigating through the “Coming Soon” and “New Release” sections can be frustrating, often cluttered with poorly made $2.99 titles, making it tough for players to discover intriguing indie games or major new releases. This situation often leads customers to rely on sponsored sections or curated lists of popular titles, causing them to miss out on more unique gaming experiences. So, it’s refreshing to see Sony take decisive action to clear the clutter.

The surge in these releases isn’t just about tricking players into buying low-quality games; it’s also a strategy aimed at trophy hunters. Many of these hastily produced “games” are packed with easy trophies, allowing players to snag a Platinum with minimal effort. This issue is compounded by the practice of releasing multiple regional versions of the same game, each with its own trophy set, which means those 1,000 deletions are actually closer to around 100 distinct titles, each re-released multiple times.

Earlier this year, around 1,200 games from a developer known as ThiGames were removed, hinting at the questionable quality of these titles. While I can’t judge The Jumping Orange without trying it, I suspect it was more about its 61 PlayStation trophies than any engaging gameplay.

The latest wave of removals, noted by an outlet, includes titles from Nostra Games and CGI Lab. CGI Lab, also known as Play Lab, presents itself as a game studio with titles like Veins of Darkness and Platform 0, but it also has a slew of questionable games like Game & Console Supermarket: Business Simulator.

Nostra Games had over 700 titles delisted from the PlayStation Store, and while they may have had their fans, Sony has clearly decided they’re no longer welcome. Interestingly, Nostra Games has commented on the situation, stating on their Discord that they were caught off guard by the removals and were not given a specific reason. They had plans to continue releasing games, but this unexpected turn has put those plans on hold.

Speculation suggests that Nostra Games may have been bundling their titles, selling the same low-quality game multiple times to those eager for easy trophies. This practice likely pushed the limits, and Sony seems to have had enough.

It’s a bizarre situation where enough players are willing to pay for these subpar games and replay them multiple times for imaginary trophies, making it a viable business model. Sony clearly wants to distance itself from this trend, especially given how it tarnishes the PlayStation Store’s reputation.

For those disappointed about missing out on Nostra’s less-than-stellar Trading Card Shop Simulator, you’ll be glad to know that many of these titles are still available on Steam, the Xbox Store, and the Nintendo eShop. We’ve reached out to both Nostra and CGI Lab for their comments on the matter.