Sony seemingly enforcing “stricter guidelines” on PlayStation Store to remove the mounds of PS5 shovelware games accumulating there

Sony is stepping up its efforts to clean up the PlayStation Store by removing low-quality games and implementing stricter publishing guidelines. The crackdown specifically targets “shovelware” — low-effort titles released in high volume.

Brazilian publisher Afil Games has announced that its games are being removed from the PlayStation Store and that the company will no longer be able to release future titles on the platform. Afil Games has released over 140 games on PS4 and PS5, including titles such as Piggy’s Farm, Snack and Quack, The Cute Whale, Axobubble, and Slap the Rocks.

The publisher has been criticized by players for releasing cheap, low-effort games filled with PlayStation Trophies — particularly easy-to-earn Platinum Trophies. Trophy hunters have reportedly been drawn to purchase these games despite their poor quality, driven by the desire to easily expand their trophy collections.

Sony’s crackdown reflects a broader commitment to improving the PlayStation Store’s overall quality. In 2026 alone, the company has removed approximately 1,000 games in January, another batch in April, and over 900 additional titles more recently. The latest removals have prompted Sony to announce the implementation of stricter publishing guidelines going forward.

This action marks Sony’s most aggressive effort to date in combating shovelware accumulation on its platform. While Afil Games’ existing titles remain available for purchase on the US PlayStation Store at present, the publisher will not be able to release new games on the platform. The stricter guidelines suggest that Sony is taking a stronger stance on quality control, aiming to provide users with a more curated marketplace experience.

Sony seemingly enforcing “stricter guidelines” on PlayStation Store to remove the mounds of PS5 shovelware games accumulating there

Sources