Open the PlayStation Store right now and you might notice something missing. Whole studios are vanishing. The Sony shovelware crackdown has moved from quiet background cleanup to an open purge, and one Brazilian publisher with a giant catalog just became the latest casualty. If you collect trophies or hunt for cheap games, this change touches you directly.
| Quick Answer Sony has rolled out stricter PlayStation Store publishing rules in 2026 and is removing low-effort “shovelware” games at scale. Reports point to roughly 1,000 titles pulled in January, more in April, and another wave this month. Publisher Afil Games confirmed Sony cut its partnership, so its catalog of hundreds of games will leave the store. The goal is a cleaner, easier to browse storefront. |
Key Takeaways
- Sony introduced stricter PlayStation publishing guidelines early in 2026 to filter out low-effort games before they go live.
- Afil Games, a publisher of more than 140 PS4 and PS5 titles, confirmed Sony ended the partnership and will remove its games.
- Outlets close to the source put Afil’s total catalog far higher, at over 900 games, across all its labels.
- Most flagged games fall into two buckets: lookalikes of popular titles, and easy Platinum trophy
- Your purchased games are safe. The cleanup targets store listings, not titles you already own.
What Is Shovelware on the PlayStation Store?
Shovelware describes games made fast, in bulk, with little care for quality. Publishers “shovel” them onto a storefront to chase quick sales rather than to craft something worth playing. The term has followed digital stores for years.
On PlayStation, these titles usually take one of two shapes. First, you get knockoffs that copy the look or name of a popular game to fool a distracted shopper. Second, you get games stuffed with trophies that take minutes to earn.
That second type fuels a whole side hobby. Some players buy these games purely to inflate their trophy count, since a cheap Platinum can land in under an hour. Because of that demand, studios keep producing near-identical clones with fresh names.
| Worth Knowing Shovelware is not the same as a small budget indie game. A tiny team can still ship something thoughtful. Shovelware is defined by low effort and copy-paste design, not by budget or studio size. |
What Did Sony Actually Change in 2026?
For a long time, Sony reacted after the fact. It would pull the worst offenders once players complained loudly enough, then watch the same developers return under new names. Many subscribers asked why Sony could not simply filter junk before it reached the store.
In 2026, that approach shifted. According to a statement shared by publisher Afil Games, PlayStation began implementing stricter guidelines for publishing games on its platform from the start of the year. The new rules raise the bar for getting onto the store and staying there.
The practical effect is twofold. Publishers whose business model depends on rapid, template-driven output may no longer qualify. And existing low-effort titles already on the store have become targets for removal.
The Afil Games Removal Explained
Afil Games is a Brazil-based studio whose stated goal is to make fun, casual, accessible games. Its library includes titles such as Piggy’s Farm, Snack and Quack, The Cute Whale, Axobubble, and Slap the Rocks. Players have long accused these of being cheap and low-effort.
On June 23, 2026, the studio posted a statement on X confirming the news. It said the new guidelines clash with its business model, so PlayStation decided not to continue the partnership for future releases. Its existing games will leave the PSN Store soon.
| In Their Words Afil Games framed the split politely, thanking PlayStation players for their support and saying it remains committed to Xbox One, Xbox Series, the Microsoft Store, and Nintendo Switch, with several new projects in development. |
There is a notable gap in the reporting worth flagging. Some outlets list around 140 Afil titles on PlayStation, while sources closer to the studio, including Push Square and Insider Gaming, count over 900 across its labels. Either way, this is one of the largest single-publisher removals yet.
How Big Is the 2026 Purge? (By the Numbers)
This is not a one-off. The Afil split is the latest move in a year-long campaign to clean up the storefront. Here is the rough shape of the 2026 removals, based on reporting from gaming outlets.
| Period | Reported Action | Source Outlet |
| January 2026 | Around 1,000 titles removed, many from ThiGames | Insider Gaming |
| April 2026 | Another large wave of removals | Insider Gaming |
| Early June 2026 | Roughly 1,000 more titles pulled | Insider Gaming |
| June 23, 2026 | Afil Games partnership cut; catalog to be removed | Push Square / VGC |
Figures are based on outlet reporting and may be refined as Sony shares official numbers.
| The Standout The pattern matters more than any single number. Sony has gone from occasional cleanups to near-weekly removals, which signals a permanent policy shift rather than a temporary sweep. |
How to Spot Shovelware Before You Buy
You do not need to wait for Sony to clean every listing. A few quick checks help you dodge low-effort games on your own.
- Check the trophy list. If a Platinum unlocks in minutes with no real challenge, treat it as a red flag.
- Look at the publisher’s catalog. Dozens of near-identical games with swapped themes usually means template output.
- Compare the name and art. Titles that mimic a famous game are often designed to catch a distracted buyer.
- Watch the price and discount. Permanent deep discounts that push a game up the charts are a common shovelware tactic.
- Read a few reviews. A minute of research saves you from a purchase you will not touch twice.
| Quick Tip If you mainly want a console that sidesteps this whole problem, our Steam Machine review breaks down how Valve’s living-room PC curates its own library differently. |
What This Means for Trophy Hunters
Trophy hunters sit at the center of this story. Easy-Platinum games exist largely because a slice of players will buy almost anything that pads their collection cheaply and fast.
As Sony removes these titles, two things happen. The supply of quick Platinums shrinks, and the practice of buying games purely for trophies gets harder. For some, that is a loss. For others, it makes the trophy system feel more earned.
Either way, your existing trophies are not going anywhere. Removing a game from the store does not strip earned trophies from your profile. The change affects what you can buy next, not what you have already done.
Is Shovelware the Same as a Small Indie Game?
No. Shovelware is defined by low effort and copy-paste design, while indie games are small-team projects that can be deeply creative. A game’s budget does not decide the label. Intent and quality do. Sony’s rules target throwaway clones, not ambitious small releases.
| Trait | Shovelware | Legitimate Indie Game |
| Design effort | Minimal, template-based | Original and intentional |
| Trophy list | Often trivial to Platinum | Earned through real play |
| Catalog pattern | Dozens of near clones | Distinct, curated releases |
| Player goal | Pad trophy count cheaply | Enjoy the actual game |
Gaming itself has always evolved through these waves of cleanup and reinvention. If you enjoy that bigger picture, our timeline of gaming evolution traces how the industry keeps reshaping itself.
The Sony shovelware crackdown signals a cleaner future for the PlayStation Store. Fewer clones and fewer junk listings should make it easier to find games worth your time and money. The trade-off is a tougher road for easy-trophy farming.
For most players, that is a fair deal. A storefront you can actually browse beats one buried in copy-paste filler. Keep an eye on your wishlist, and use the quick checks above before your next purchase.
| Your Move Want to keep up with PlayStation news and smart buying tips? Browse more in our Gaming section and bookmark the ones worth a second look. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose games I already bought from Afil Games?
No. Removing a game from the PlayStation Store stops new sales, but titles you already own stay in your library and remain playable. The cleanup targets store listings, not your purchases.
Why is Sony removing shovelware now?
Sony introduced stricter publishing guidelines in 2026 to raise store quality. Players had long asked for a filter against low-effort clones, and the new rules let Sony block such titles before and after they go live.
How many games has Sony removed in 2026?
Reports point to roughly 1,000 titles in January, more in April, and another wave in early June, plus the Afil Games catalog. Exact totals vary by outlet, so treat the figures as estimates.
Do removed games take my trophies away?
No. Earned trophies stay on your profile even after a game leaves the store. Removal affects future availability, not your completed achievements.
What happens to Afil Games after this?
Afil Games said it will keep releasing on Xbox One, Xbox Series, the Microsoft Store, and Nintendo Switch, with new projects in development. Its PlayStation releases are the ones ending.
Does this affect PS Plus monthly or catalog games?
Not directly. This is a store-listing cleanup. For separate catalog changes, see our roundup of the PS Plus July 2026 games leaving the catalog.
