For a while now, the PS Store has been awash with dozens of cheap, reskinned "games". Produced solely to make a quick buck by offering easy Trophies in exchange for pennies, these titles have become a bit of a problem on the platform's storefront. They drown out more meaningful new software by popping up on a weekly basis, in some cases. Now, according to one report, it seems Sony might finally be putting its foot down.
Gaming site Dex.exe claims an anonymous source has sent it proof of policy changes from Sony that will stamp out, or at least reduce, the appearance of games like The Jumping Quesadilla Turbo, Caravan Journey, and Stroke The Tortoise.
According to the report, which includes a screenshot of a letter sent out to developers, Sony will be implementing a number of extra steps to deter or eliminate the release of spam and copy-paste software. Games falling under Sony's definitions of this practice could be subject to various actions, such as:
- Restricted discoverability
- Only able to be found via direct link
- Delisted from PS Store
- Content refused publication
- Developer account suspension or termination
There are more measures, but these are pretty much the crux of it. If this letter is legitimate (and it looks it), studios making these games may not get very far in future.
The platform holder did make efforts to prevent these games from encroaching on certain feeds and allow more deserving titles to be put in the spotlight. However, with this brand of shovelware still releasing nearly every day, it appears Sony might be taking a firmer stance. We've asked PlayStation for comment on this.
Bearing in mind this isn't official just yet, what do you think of this? Would you like to see Sony use a heavier hand on PS Store's spam problem? Let us know in the comments section below.
[source dexdotexe.com]
Comments 56
How am I going to find Stroke the Tortoise Deluxe now when it drops though? Bummed about this tbh. /i
Stroke the ego of Trophy hunters now banned loo
Jim Sterling once pointed out that someone at Sony had to have authorised these games in the first place. This isn't like Steam where you can just upload what you like.
I smell a management change somewhere.
Oh, and wipe all of the associated trophies while you are at it. We know that's why these games exist.
I'll be glad to see this tripe removed!!
Hopefully there go all those copy-and-paste press one button for trophies 'games'. Good riddance.
thats the thing sony have always known about these buy a platinum games because they have to pass cert to get on the store and they dont care as they were making money out of them
this is easily solved dont allow shovel ware games a platinum trophy then watch as no one buys them.
it has always amazed me games like edith finch no platinum but shovel ware gets a platinum
Ah nice one, should make the store more useable!
Also Colin is going to be here looking if anyone mentions him, and I think this new push is thanks to him. So hi Mr. Moriarty
If this turns out to be true, then its a good change. There's so much ridiculous trash being recommended.
Thank the heavens. Get this trash outta here!
Can't believe my favorite game ever, The Jumping Falafel, is about to be purged from existence. Shaking and crying right now, what a colossal loss for the industry.
@SeanOhOgain Colin was right
Nooooooo. Sony will probably remove "I'm in love with my dead grandmother". The best game to ever exist.
There is a filter to sort this out......trashing it seems a bit harsh.
I must say a lot of games on the psn store are junk so many get though quality control by the looks of it.
Pay for Platinum's....... Stroke the dollar bill.
Nooo my one platinum a week plan is going to hell…
But just remove the platinum trophy from ”games” like these so we can play them for fun instead. If anyone plays them for fun.
At least My name is Mayo requires some work. Or a lot of work. Was a challenge from a friend. Almost killed me from boredom. (Sorry developer)
About time these games got both barrels
It's taken (taking) far too long, honestly. I downloaded 'Leopard Lady in hot pants Vs the cat people' as a laugh, but fear I may have contributed to the issue.
I was wondering how many people buy these games, like The Jumping Taco. Glad to see this removed
Stroke the Tortoise is definitely an innuendo 😂
Good riddance I say, it was getting out of hand to the point that the store was flooded with them
Be glad to see this crud go, there is so many of these littering the PS store.
@SeanOhOgain definitely the work of our fearless leader Colin here
@Mossbergs I don't think the voices games falls under this definition of spam. Those are all actual short games and they're all different from each other. The couple of re-releases, I think, are free if you own the other (except cross-gen).
I prefer call them underrated / unpopular games
They are not really bad and have different ideas.
#keeptheunpopulargames 👍
It’s about time. This is long overdue. I’ve got nothing against Platinum Trophy hunters. I’ve gone through stages playing games for easy plats myself. But they were games like My Name is Mayo (which is dumb gameplay-wise, but cleverly written) or Ratalaika published games, which can be a bit trashy, but feel as if some effort went into making them.
The amount of shovelware that’s been cluttering up the store lately has gotten steadily worse over the past few years, and needs a bit more curation on Sony’s end.
@LifeGirl i done a few of these about a year ago and i honestly would love it if they did remove the crap from my trophies. I find them kind of embarrassing to have on my account.
If you want to keep your honor, also make sure that all platinum trophies from these games are deleted. I loved collecting trophies until it got too easy and then these nauseating games came along and ruined the whole trophy idea.
I knew I noticed a reduction in those games trophy list popping up on PSNProfiles. Good job Sony this makes me very happy. Get that garbage out of here. I might actually start looking at games on PSN again now.
@trev666 I agree, Edith finch is such a good game and innovative and the fact games like this are being drowned out on the store by stroke the tortoise and jumping taco is a real shame.
@Milktastrophe they definitely fall into the category. If it's your studio, thanks for the brief, cheap fun I had.
Finally, for too long the store has been filled with so much *****.
Great news keep that crap off the store
You can all thank COLIN MORIARTY for this!
THANK YOU COLIN! No one else was talking about this
@Ken_Kaniff that's not because of Sony. Those lists aren't showing up anymore because PSNP staff is manually hiding them (though I bet there's some automatic hiding too).
@Slug_full_of_metal I have no idea who that is, but a ton of people have been talking about this. Push Square has run articles about it too. https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2022/05/pay-for-ps5-ps4-platinum-trophies-is-rampant-on-ps-store-right-now
@Mossbergs how do they fall under this definition of spam? I haven't played all of their games, but they're all different in functionality.
Good! Pull those crappy religious games.
@Milktastrophe ok, I understand your position, they're not as bad as Big Sheepy P (or whatever), but for me they are all on the same boat. That boat needs sinking. Or at least putting in a deep dark category in the ps store. Not standing proud next to Hollow Knight or Elden Ring.
It's about damn time! All you have to do is hit the low to high filter in the store, and a flood of crap is there for all to see. That crap takes up so much space until you can get to the good stuff.
“stroke the tortoise” bro what is wrong with people . did y’all see the description of the game ???
This needed to happen along time ago! The store is full of cheap garbage games that have no right to be on there!!
Good news indeed.
@W0rl0ck
I was searching one day for a cheap but still good-looking quick entertainment game. I bought a tank game, hoping I have fun, which doesn't take more than 5 or 10 mins in a match.
The control is awful, I can't enjoy it. It feels like when I first played a shooting game on PS after decades of mouse and keyboard combo. No, it is even worse!
Anyway, I completed the first 3 levels and I already have 1 platinum and 3 gold trophies... I wish a real entertainment for 5-10 mins instead of these nonsense trophies...
Never again...
@trev666 you are soo right. Wait until the revenue drops and sony loses money they will QUICKLY change their tune. I know people with 800 plats, and its all bloatware games with you being able to get a platinum by playing the game for 10 minutes. While im here spending 240 hours getting a platinum, yeah EFF ALL THESE TROLLS!
@silverspeed " SUPER CANDY HOLIDAY RUSH" they even have seasonal games, I think there is one called "ST PATRICKS DAY EVOLUTION" or some stupid crap, 10 gold trophies and one platinum! soo sickening man..
@W0rl0ck I know it almost feels like people calling you a pedo, but you just like teaching kids how to play soccer.. It is kind of embarrassing. a friend of mine got a platinum in less than one hour! It was disgusting...
I feel your pain bro, yeah I havent "drunk the kool aid" all of my platinums are in the 0.1-5.9% range, meaning that I put in my time and effort and I have a few that sit at 0.2% that I know not too many gamers will ever get because the game is just too challenging,... if you see "98%" platinum rate on a game ... RUNNNN!!!
I’ve always been bothered by the fact that some of these stroking or jumping one button games have an achievable platinum in a couple minutes, whereas legit games like Dear Esther or Firewatch and some that even require skill like Valiant Hearts or Inside don’t have a platinum. It didn’t ruin those wonderful games to not have a platinum, but it just underscores the messed up platinum trophy economy.
I don't understand the cache in having trophies that were obtained from shovelware. If I won a gold-plated medallion from the egg and spoon race in primary school, I wouldn't go parading it around.
@MakersMark I just looked up "St Patrick day, evolution", what you mentioned earlier.
Mainly, because I wanted to see a gameplay video or something before I judge.
I found only one video, where a guy promotes this kind of games as quick trophy earning in 20 mins.
I thought, okay, somebody is into it, but it doesn't hurt saying it. But then I read comments how cool is the game. Bit I was shocked as I don't want to pay anything for a 20 mins game at all. I mean, 20 mins for the whole game?!
And then someone commented there that he (or she?) likes playing with it while doing exercise with cross trainer.
I was like: Okay, I get sometimes bored to while I run or being in the gym... But playing this kind of games on PS? How can you do that? I would love to see a camera recording.
@Milktastrophe How do you know they are hiding them?
@Ken_Kaniff because they're still there with new ones being added all the time. Here's the unfiltered game list: https://psnprofiles.com/games?shovelware
Good riddance to these games, I hope they're able to remove them all.
But they've not released Stroke The D yet.
@Milktastrophe Ahhh I see. Well hopefully Sony wipes these our completely very soon.
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