Sony Purges Hundreds of “Shovelware” Games from Store
▼ Summary
– Sony has removed a large number of games from developer ThiGames from the PlayStation Store, as evidenced by broken links on the developer’s website.
– These games are often considered low-quality “shovelware,” produced quickly and offering shallow gameplay, though some players use them to earn trophies.
– Before the removal, ThiGames was one of the most prolific publishers on the store, with only three other developers having more titles listed.
– Industry analysis suggests ThiGames actually released around 150 games, not over 1,000, and was grossing nearly $10 million annually from them.
– Neither ThiGames nor Sony has publicly commented on the reports of the games’ removal.
Sony has taken significant action by removing a large number of games from the PlayStation Store, specifically targeting titles published by ThiGames. This move effectively clears out what many in the gaming community refer to as “shovelware”, games produced rapidly with minimal depth, often designed to clutter digital storefronts. While these games are frequently criticized for offering simplistic experiences, they have found a niche audience among players seeking to quickly increase their PlayStation Trophy counts.
Visiting the ThiGames website now reveals that most links to their extensive catalog are broken, strongly indicating the titles are no longer available for purchase on Sony’s platform. The purge represents a notable shift in Sony’s storefront management, potentially aimed at improving overall content quality and discoverability for consumers. Before this removal, only three other developers, Eastasiasoft, Ratalaika Games, and Webnetic, had more games listed on the PS4 and PS5 stores than ThiGames, according to data from trophy hunter Rob Thanatos.
However, industry analyst Simon Carless of GameDiscoverCo provides important context, suggesting that public estimates of over a thousand games might be inflated. He notes that some listings count five separate regional versions for each title. Carless estimates ThiGames actually released closer to 153 distinct games, but with a staggering annual revenue approaching $10 million. This figure highlights the substantial, if controversial, commercial footprint these types of games can achieve.
Examples of the affected content include titles like The Jumping Taco: Turbo, a game highlighted by Eurogamer that exemplifies the trend. A related video demonstrates how players could unlock numerous Trophies within mere seconds of starting the game, illustrating the appeal for certain users despite the lack of traditional gameplay depth. The removal of such a prolific publisher raises questions about storefront curation policies and the balance between open access and quality control.
Neither ThiGames nor Sony has issued an official statement regarding the widespread delisting. The lack of comment leaves the specific reasons for the action open to speculation, though it aligns with a broader industry conversation about digital store saturation and the value of curation. For now, the PlayStation Store appears noticeably lighter, with a significant segment of its lowest-cost, high-volume content suddenly absent.
(Source: Games Industry)
