PSA: PSN store is scaling back

[gorha]

This story is going around a bunch of news sites, but I didn't see anything about it here. Reportedly, there's going to be an overhaul of the PSN web store on October 19 that removes games from pre-PS4 systems. After that, you can still buy and download PS3, PSP and Vita games directly from the storefronts on those systems, but the UIs for those are pretty bad. The web store's download list is also the only way I know of to see everything you've purchased on PSN, and it isn't great at that.

There hasn't been a sale that included games from the older systems in a few months now, outside of cross-buy for ones with PS4 versions, and with this announcement it seems pretty likely that there never will be again, but there are some things that seem worth their current "full" price, and this seems like a good time to get them. I grabbed Infamous: Festival of Blood for $5, and I'm looking at a few PS1 and PSP games as well.

 

[Kazin]

Get your PSP games now, because the PSP store on the actual PSP has been offline for years. I don't think you'll be able to buy PSP games on anything besides Vita anymore.

 

[MCBanjoMike]

Man, I guess this is the end of the PSOne Classic? I loved those things, it's a damn crime that Sony never brought them to PS4 (and doesn't seem too excited about PS5, either). Wonder if I should buy Tearaway for my Vita?

 

[Patrick]

You can still see a download list for everything you've bought on PSN via the Vita store. I'm not sure if that'll go away though. I'm thinking this might be a good time to hack my Vita, anyway.

Wonder if I should buy Tearaway for my Vita?

I think there's an extensive demo that's available for free. It ended up in my download list, even though I don't remember buying it.

 

[Neo Skimbleshanks]

Did buy PSONE classic FFV a few months ago bc I've never hacked any of my systems and wanted a portable/legit copy. It's also my preferred official release anyway. (mobile port has quite a different look and I don't like the ever present character portraits in Advance) Recommend.

 

[Zef]

Argh this is their way of getting me to buy the nigh-mandatory $30 Sisters DLC for Drakengard 3 isn't it.

 

[Sarge]

Greeeeaaaaaat. Super. Welcome to the world of digital storefronts, folks!

Also, seriously, they do need to have another sale on some of this stuff, especially on the PS1 games. I miss when they used to have really nice flash sales on those games.

 

[fanboymaster]

Putting the over under before they're totally gone at 1 year.

 

[Kazin]

Hack every system you own that you're not planning on playing multiplayer games online with imo and put every game you want on it (assuming you can - only some models of the PS3 and PS4 are currently hackable iirc)

 

[estragon]

I think that maybe they've already removed the Vita and PS3 games from Japanese PSN website unless I'm overlooking something. Games I wishlisted are still currently in the wish list, but you can't browse the selection.

Man, I guess this is the end of the PSOne Classic? I loved those things, it's a damn crime that Sony never brought them to PS4 (and doesn't seem too excited about PS5, either). Wonder if I should buy Tearaway for my Vita?

On the other hand, in JPN region at least, the PSOne Classics are still on the website there even after the PS3/Vita games have been delisted from the website.Obviously this doesn't necessarily tell us anything about what other regions will do, just an observation about what is happening.

Also, I don't think anything about this story yet is about removing games from being able to purchase, only taking them off the website, although in the long term yeah the writing is on the walls for PS3/Vita stores.

Just throwing this information out there in case anyone else has some Yens sitting in their account they'd rather spend that let vanish. (I skipped the PS4 generation and am unsure if I'll get if a PS5 or maybe just jump ship to XBox or build a gaming PC, so I'm in use it or lose it mode with my Sony Bucks before everything shuts down...)

 

[WisteriaHysteria]

Welcome to the world of digital storefronts, folks!

This is why I buy physical games. The first time I observed a game being delisted from the Steam Store over a decade ago, I immediately recognized how much of a scam buying digital was.

This is kind of a long time coming. At least they're keeping things up for now via PS3/Vita machines themselves. Nintendo orphaned the online stores of its machines from that generation a while back already.

 

[ShakeWell]

Man, I guess this is the end of the PSOne Classic?

Just in time for my XStation to arrive this week!

 

[Sarge]

This is why I buy physical games. The first time I observed a game being delisted from the Steam Store over a decade ago, I immediately recognized how much of a scam buying digital was.

This is kind of a long time coming. At least they're keeping things up for now via PS3/Vita machines themselves. Nintendo orphaned the online stores of its machines from that generation a while back already.

Yep, that's why I try to buy physical, too. Although with this generation (and some of the last, too), we'll run headlong into not being able to get patches for those physical games, which is an absolute bummer, too. I try to buy GOG whenever I can on the PC side, too. Although my Steam account is massive, which was mostly from the game bundle heyday. But sometimes, you just can't get a game anywhere else.

In the end, hacking the systems is going to be the only viable solution for keeping them going. And maybe I worry too much about this stuff - not that it isn't really anti-consumer, but more in that statistically, I'm (barely) on the back nine of my life anyway...

 

[WisteriaHysteria]

Although with this generation (and some of the last, too), we'll run headlong into not being able to get patches for those physical games, which is an absolute bummer, too.

Yeah, this is something I've been considering for a while now. I've replaced a few of my launch versions with cheap GotY editions or collected anthologies for some things, so that if/when I ever want to revisit those games, it has all the patches/dlc/whatever already on the disk. Usually a pretty easy thing to do for popular AAA games; less so for humble titles.

 

[Kishi]

Another thing to note is that the site's wish list feature is going away entirely when the update drops. So if you have a list, you should copy it down now.

Also, seriously, they do need to have another sale on some of this stuff, especially on the PS1 games. I miss when they used to have really nice flash sales on those games.

The last big sale I saw for PS1 games was around a year ago. I was lucky to grab a lot of stuff then.

 

[Syless]

If the largest companies are going to pull things like this, I will never show any remorse for less savory ways of acquiring games. The moment you can't buy a game firsthand, I have no qualms with where it's obtained.

 

[Kirin]

Another thing to note is that the site's wish list feature is going away entirely when the update drops. So if you have a list, you should copy it down now.

Why.... why would they do that? Don’t wishlists remind people to spend money on things?

 

[WisteriaHysteria]

Why.... why would they do that? Don’t wishlists remind people to spend money on things?

Honestly, their whole digital storefront is such a clusterfuck of poorly programmed nonsense that stripping it down and eventually rebuilding it, I would gladly welcome. If only Microsoft, Valve, and Nintendo could do the same with their equally as fucked up digital storefronts.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

If only Microsoft, Valve, and Nintendo could do the same with their equally as fucked up digital storefronts.

Xbox just relaunched theirs...

 

[Troa11]

If the largest companies are going to pull things like this, I will never show any remorse for less savory ways of acquiring games. The moment you can't buy a game firsthand, I have no qualms with where it's obtained.

Everyone has their own of course, but this is basically the ethics I live by in the gaming space. If you won't let me give you money for your game, then I lose no sleep over obtaining it another way.

 

[gogglebob]

I am a coward that loves giving money to faceless companies that don't care if I live or die. That said, what's the current best way/process for purchasing games on the Japanese storefront (specifically for the PS3)? Is that going to be impacted? I've always wanted to grab a few of the weirder titles that never made it across the pond...

 

[Kishi]

Create Japanese account, buy Japanese points card, redeem code, spend points. But I'm reading here they never put Gradius Gaiden on PS3, so it's pointless.

 

[MCBanjoMike]

it's pointless.

That's not true, you can at least get Einhander.

 

[Mr. Sensible]

Just in time for my XStation to arrive this week!

I've got an old PS1 with a busted optical drive that would be a prime candidate for this mod, so I am definitely interested to hear your thoughts on the XStation once you've got it set up.

 

[Ludendorkk]

Create Japanese account, buy Japanese points card, redeem code, spend points. But I'm reading here they never put Gradius Gaiden on PS3, so it's pointless.

This is a crime

 

[WisteriaHysteria]

Just in time for my XStation to arrive this week!

I've got an old PS1 with a busted optical drive that would be a prime candidate for this mod, so I am definitely interested to hear your thoughts on the XStation once you've got it set up.

What's an XStation?

Spoiler

 

[ShakeWell]

I've got an old PS1 with a busted optical drive that would be a prime candidate for this mod, so I am definitely interested to hear your thoughts on the XStation once you've got it set up.

I'm told they're shipping next week, then I have to send it to my dude to get installed, so expect thoughts in the appropriate thread in early November (and probably at least one livestream).

 

[Sarge]

If I had a PS1 with the right mobo, I'd seriously consider one. Although I have to admit, PSX emulation is far better than other contemporary systems, so it probably wouldn't be as high priority as having a way to play burned/ODE games on the Saturn.

 

[Aleryn]

Ugh, thanks for the heads up. This BS is why I gravitate towards services like gog.com.

 

[LBD_Nytetrayn]

Thinking on it, I kind of wish I'd made a clean break and made a new PlayStation account with the PS4, instead of keeping on with the one I made for the PSP and the PS3, since none of those carried forward anyway.

I guess I might have foolishly held faith they'd add BC eventually, or maybe I just didn't want to lose... Hell, I don't know if I had any Trophies, anyway.

Sigh. What a stupid mess.