Sony is reportedly implementing stricter guidelines for game releases on the PlayStation Store, a move that has already led to the removal of games from some publishers and a cessation of future releases on the platform.
Afil Games, a Brazilian publisher known for casual titles often designed to help players quickly earn trophies, announced via social media that its games were being removed from the PlayStation Store. The publisher stated that its business model is incompatible with Sony's new, more stringent publishing rules, and therefore, it will not be releasing future titles on PlayStation platforms.
"As many of you may already know, since the beginning of this year PlayStation has been implementing stricter guidelines for publishing games on its platform," Afil Games shared on X. "As a result of these new guidelines and their incompatibility with our business model, PlayStation has decided not to continue its partnership with Afil Games for future releases on the platform."
Afil Games has published titles such as Chico's Delivery, Chippy's Stash, and Cat Pipes. These games, like many others from similar publishers, often feature simple gameplay mechanics and are designed to be easily completed, making them appealing to players focused on trophy collection. This type of content is commonly referred to as "shovelware" due to its perceived low effort and high volume.
This crackdown appears to be part of a broader effort by Sony to curate its digital storefront. Earlier this year, the company reportedly targeted several publishers, leading to the removal of thousands of games across multiple waves. This initiative to reduce what is often called "slop" or low-quality content seems to have gained momentum over the past year.
Despite the changes, Afil Games expressed gratitude to its PlayStation supporters and confirmed its commitment to releasing games on other platforms. "We would like to sincerely thank all PlayStation players who have supported us throughout this journey," the publisher stated. "We remain committed to bringing new experiences to our players through Xbox One, Xbox Series, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo Switch."