Sony Removes a Free Game From PlayStation Users’ Libraries
▼ Summary
– Sony has revoked free access to the game *Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun* from PlayStation users two months after a PSN glitch allowed it to be claimed.
– The glitch occurred on October 17, making the normally $40 game free for a few hours before Sony corrected the error.
– This revocation is unusual because Sony typically reverses such errors within 24 to 48 hours, not after a two-month delay.
– The game takes 25-30 hours to complete, so the extended period allowed many users to finish it for free.
– Sony has not commented on the incident, including whether it compensated the game’s publisher, Daedalic Entertainment.
PlayStation users who managed to claim a game for free due to a temporary store error have now seen it removed from their digital libraries, two months after the incident occurred. This unusual delay in revocation has left many players surprised, as past corrections for similar pricing glitches typically happened within a day or two. The game in question, Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun, is a critically acclaimed stealth tactics title that normally retails for forty dollars. The extended window provided ample opportunity for those who claimed it to fully experience the game, which offers a substantial twenty-five to thirty-hour campaign.
The specific error took place on October 17th, when a glitch on the PlayStation Network made the PS4 and PS5 version of Shadow Tactics available to claim at no cost for several hours. Word spread quickly through gaming communities before Sony corrected the store listing. While many anticipated the company would swiftly revoke the licenses from accounts that benefited, no such action was taken for an unusually long period. The recent removal, occurring roughly eight weeks later, suggests Sony’s internal processes for addressing these issues can vary significantly. This lengthy gap was more than enough time for interested players to complete the game, a feat that would have been impossible within the standard one-to-two-day correction window seen in previous cases.
Sony has not issued any public statement regarding the glitch or the subsequent license revocation. The silence leaves several questions unanswered, including whether the publisher, Daedalic Entertainment, received any compensation for the copies distributed during the error period. While storefront errors are not uncommon in the digital marketplace, the extended timeline before corrective action is what makes this particular situation notable. It serves as a reminder that access to content obtained through such means is never guaranteed, regardless of how much time passes.
For those who did get to play it, the experience was a chance to enjoy one of the standout stealth games of its era. Developed by the now-closed Mimimi Productions, the title remains highly regarded for its challenging tactical gameplay. Ironically, for players who had the game revoked and wish to purchase it legitimately, it is currently available at a deep discount. The game is on sale for just four dollars, a significant reduction from its standard forty-dollar price point, offering a low-cost opportunity to own it permanently.
(Source: COMICBOOK)
