Sony tightens PS Store rules, removes thousands of games

Sony Interactive Entertainment has implemented stricter publishing guidelines for the PlayStation Store, leading to the removal of thousands of low-quality games and the termination of partnerships with dozens of developers. The policy shift, confirmed by one of the affected publishers, marks a significant escalation in the company's long-running effort to curb so-called "shovelware" on its digital storefront.

The Brazilian publisher Afil Games announced on social media that its entire catalog of over 900 titles is being removed from the PlayStation Store and that its future releases will not be available on the platform. The studio stated that Sony's new guidelines, which have been implemented since the beginning of this year, are incompatible with its business model, leading PlayStation to discontinue the partnership.

This announcement provides the first official confirmation of the reasoning behind a series of large-scale removals that have occurred throughout 2026. Industry observers and players have noted thousands of games vanishing from the store in recent months, a process that sources describe as having intensified this year after appearing to begin in 2025. The...