Sony's PlayStation Store Removes Over 150 Shovelware Titles by a Single Developer
It's a significant development for PlayStation Network trophy hunters and fans of quirky, jumping-centric games. Sony has seemingly removed the entire catalog of games published by ThiGames, a German company known for its extensive library of titles aimed at gamers seeking to showcase their 100% completion status. The sudden disappearance of ThiGames' games from Sony's online store was first reported by Twitch streamer Rob Thanatos, who shared a screenshot suggesting the publisher had an astonishing 1194 PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games for sale. The next day, Delisted Games, a website tracking games no longer available for purchase, provided more context, noting that the number includes various translations and regional variations, which, when adjusted, results in a more realistic count of around 150 titles.
The games in ThiGames' catalog share a common trait: they are considered 'shovelware,' a term describing low-quality, rushed games. The advent of vibe coding and AI-generated assets in 2026 likely made it even easier for the studio to produce these titles quickly. Games like The Jumping Bonbon, The Jumping Strawberry, and The Jumping Onion Ring, despite their quirky charm, were popular among PSN subscribers for their ease in earning Platinum Trophies, awarded for completing all in-game objectives. However, Sony's decision to remove these games from its store suggests a shift towards prioritizing quality over quantity.
While some commentators view this as a long-awaited house cleaning, others argue that ThiGames' removal may be due to more severe issues. Twitter users have questioned whether Sony has the right to ban a publisher's entire catalog based on game quality concerns. This has sparked speculation that ThiGames may have engaged in more unethical practices than just releasing shovelware. As of now, neither Sony nor ThiGames has responded to requests for comment, leaving the situation open to further investigation and discussion.
