Sony Tightens PlayStation Store Guidelines to Address Shovelware Concerns Sony has reportedly implemented stricter guidelines for publishing games on the PlayStation Store, aiming to reduce the presence of shovelware—games criticized for prioritizing trophy collection over meaningful gameplay. Afil Games, a Brazilian publisher known for its casual titles, has been impacted by these changes, with its games removed from the platform and future releases barred. The publisher announced the decision on social media, citing incompatibility with Sony’s new policies. Afil Games’ statement, shared via X (formerly Twitter), explained that Sony’s updated guidelines conflict with its business model. "As a result of these new guidelines and their incompatibility with our business model, PlayStation has decided not to continue its partnership with Afil Games for future releases on the platform," the company wrote. The publisher’s portfolio includes titles such as Chico’s Delivery, Chippy’s Stash, and Cat Pipes, which are described as casual games designed to pad players’ trophy counts. Sony’s efforts to curb shovelware have intensified this year, with multiple waves of game removals targeting publishers deemed to produce low-quality content. The initiative appears to have begun last year, but the pace of enforcement has accelerated. The publisher’s statement noted that thousands of games from various publishers have been removed as part of this campaign. Afil Games’ announcement also expressed gratitude to its fanbase for their support, acknowledging the role of player engagement in the company’s growth. "Your enthusiasm and trust have played a significant role in our growth," the publisher wrote.#sony #x #playstation_store #afil_games #shovelware
Sony Enforcing Stricter Guidelines Against Shovelware Publishers Sony has reportedly cut ties with Brazilian-based publisher Afil Games, citing the implementation of "stricter guidelines" for game publishing on its platform. In a social media post, Afil Games confirmed that PlayStation had terminated its partnership, stating that the platform had decided not to continue its collaboration for future releases. The decision means Afil will no longer publish new titles on the PlayStation Store, though its existing games—such as Chico's Delivery and Damways—remain available for purchase in the U.S. Afil Games expressed gratitude to its players for their support on PlayStation and emphasized its continued commitment to delivering new experiences on other platforms, including Xbox consoles and Nintendo Switch. The publisher’s statement highlighted its dedication to expanding its portfolio beyond PlayStation, even as it faces consequences for its past practices. This move follows Sony’s removal of hundreds of games from its PlayStation Store in January, including titles published by ThiGames. These games, often labeled as "shovelware," are criticized for being rushed into development, flooding the store, and offering simplistic or shallow experiences. However, some players use them to complete trophy collections. Before the January purge, ThiGames was among the top developers in terms of the number of games listed on the PS4 and PS5 stores, surpassing only Eastasiasoft, Ratalaika Games, and Webnetic. The removal of ThiGames’ titles marked a significant shift in Sony’s approach to curating its store, reflecting a stricter stance on quality control. Sony’s actions have raised questions about the impact on developers reliant on the PlayStation Store for distribution.#sony #playstation #playstation_store #afil_games #thigames
