A Japanese developer has publicly criticised Sony, saying the company doesn't understand the feelings of its fans — and that shutting down the PlayStation Store for older platforms is so drastic it's like eliminating the hardware itself.
The developer's comments come in response to Sony's plans to close digital storefronts for legacy PlayStation platforms, which would make previously purchased or available digital games inaccessible or impossible to buy going forward. The quote — "they may as well eliminate the hardware too" — captures the frustration that a storefront closure effectively kills the platform for anyone who relies on digital purchases, patches, or downloads to keep older games running.
Sony has faced this kind of backlash before. A 2021 attempt to shut down the PS3 and PS Vita stores was reversed after a massive community outcry, though the PSP store did eventually close. Preservation advocates and developers alike have long argued that digital-only or digital-dependent games are uniquely vulnerable when platform holders pull the plug on their storefronts — a concern that has only grown as more games ship without a physical release.
The source doesn't name the developer directly, but the criticism adds to a broader chorus of voices — from fans to creators — pushing back against Sony's approach to legacy content. Whether public pressure will shift Sony's position, as it did in 2021, remains to be seen.
Sources (1)
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