Sony Purges Hundreds of Shovelware Games from Digital Storefront

Sony has recently purged a significant number of ThiGames titles from its PlayStation Store. This removal has sparked debates within the gaming community regarding the impact of such “shovelware” on digital storefronts.

Sony’s Game Removal

As noted by industry observers, multiple links to ThiGames titles have vanished from their official site. This indicates a large-scale removal of their games from the Sony marketplace. Shovelware games like these are typically produced quickly, often lacking depth and quality. Though viewed as low-value, they can serve as a means for players to boost their trophy counts.

Shovelware Games and Their Impact

• Commonly characterized by quick development cycles.
• Often criticized for offering shallow gaming experiences.
• Players sometimes use them to increase their Trophy achievements.

A notable example of such a game is “The Jumping Taco: Turbo,” which demonstrated how easily trophies can be unlocked with minimal playtime. Prior to the removal, ThiGames had one of the largest portfolios on the PlayStation Store, trailing only behind three other developers.

Developer Standing and Revenue Estimates

According to trophy hunter Rob Thanatos, ThiGames had more titles on PS4 and PS5 than all except Eastasiasoft, Ratalaika Games, and Webnetic. GameDiscoverCo’s Simon Carless highlighted potential discrepancies in the number of games reported. He suggested that some statistics inflated their count by considering regional variations of the same game.

Despite the changes, neither Sony nor ThiGames has issued any official comments regarding this development. Industry experts speculate on the motivations behind Sony’s actions, but clarity remains elusive. The gaming community continues to watch for any further updates on this situation.