Sony removes over 1,000 shovelware games from PlayStation Store

Sony has quietly removed more than 1,000 games from developer ThiGames from the PlayStation Store. The action targeted low-quality titles that were popular for easy trophy hunting. This follows a similar purge of another developer's games a year earlier.

On January 14, 2026, Sony executed a large-scale removal of games from its PlayStation Store, affecting the entire catalog of developer ThiGames. Prior to the wipe, ThiGames ranked fourth among developers by the number of titles available on the platform. User RobThanatos first noticed the change, reporting that all of ThiGames' releases had vanished, though trophies earned by players remain accessible.

ThiGames specialized in simple, low-effort games, often described as shovelware. Examples include The Jumping Fries, where players control jumping french fries, alongside similar titles like The Jumping Taco, The Jumping Hot Dog, The Jumping Soda, and The Jumping Taco TURBO. These games attracted players seeking quick achievements; for instance, a full platinum trophy guide for The Jumping Taco TURBO lasts just 95 seconds, featuring basic tasks such as jumping a set number of times.

Neither Sony nor ThiGames has issued a statement explaining the removal. The move echoes Sony's actions from roughly a year ago against developer Randomspin, which also flooded the store with numerous games in a short time. Randomspin faced suspicions of using AI-generated or recycled assets, leading to its quiet delisting.

Such cleanups highlight Sony's efforts to curb low-quality content on the PS5 ecosystem, potentially improving the store's overall standards. Players who relied on these titles for trophy boosts may now find their collections incomplete in terms of active games, though earned accolades persist.

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