Sony has removed over 700 low-quality games from its digital storefront this week, a move that underscores the challenges platform holders face in maintaining quality control as game development becomes increasingly accessible. The majority of the delisted titles reportedly utilized artificial intelligence in their development, with the employ of the technology being readily apparent.
The action particularly impacted Nostra Games, a Cypriot publisher that saw 90 of its titles removed from the PlayStation Store. In total, accounting for regional variations, approximately 700 games were affected by the purge. This follows a similar removal of nearly 1,200 games created by ThiGames earlier this year, signaling a more aggressive approach by Sony to address concerns about “shovelware” on its platform.
CGI Lab also had its listings removed from the PlayStation Store. The company confirmed it received no advance warning but intends to continue releasing titles on the Nintendo eShop, Xbox, and Steam. The removals are estimated to affect around 1,000 games when considering all variations.
The proliferation of these low-effort games often targets trophy hunters, offering easily obtainable Platinum trophies. This practice has drawn criticism from communities that rank trophy collectors, as the games require minimal skill to achieve accomplishments. While Sony has not publicly commented on the removals, the move suggests a focus on addressing low-quality efforts, imitations of popular games, and policy violations.
