Sony’s Purge on PS5 Shovelware May Now Have Hit a Legit Indie Dev

Sony has initiated a widespread purge on the PlayStation Store, systematically removing what it deems to be shovelware titles. While this initiative has largely been met with approval, aiming to enhance the quality and integrity of the digital marketplace, it now appears to have ensnared a legitimate independent developer in its dragnet. Ukrainian studio Ternox has announced that its upcoming text-based adventure, “Stonks-9800: Stock Market Simulator,” will not be released on PS5.

Adding to this unfortunate development, Ternox also revealed that its entire catalog of existing games is scheduled for removal from the PlayStation Store after August 23rd. This decision comes despite “Stonks-9800” currently boasting an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam Early Access, based on over a thousand reviews since its 2023 debut, indicating a strong positive reception from players.

Ternox’s games, while perhaps featuring easily obtainable Trophies – a common characteristic of some titles often flagged as shovelware – do not, at first glance, appear to be uniformly low-quality or exploitative. For instance, “Nexoria: Dungeon Rogue Heroes” presents itself as a basic pixel art dungeon crawler, and “Retro Highway” is described as a straightforward homage to classic arcade racers like Super Hang-On. Other titles include “Unichrome: A 1-Bit Unicorn Adventure,” a side-scrolling shooter, and “Fox’s Zen House,” an idle clicker that innovatively utilizes the DualSense controller’s touchpad.

Many of these games maintain respectable scores exceeding 4.00 on the PlayStation Store. They largely diverge from the blatant copy-and-paste shovelware exemplified by games like “The Jumping Pizza,” which Sony has previously targeted for removal due to their clear lack of originality and quality. Furthermore, Ternox highlighted their commitment to leveraging the unique functionalities of the PlayStation 5’s DualSense controller, incorporating features like haptic feedback into their games, demonstrating a level of technical integration not typically associated with low-effort shovelware.

One game from Ternox’s library, “Finger Fitness,” an easy Platinum Trophy title designed around the adaptive triggers for a home workout experience, might arguably fall closer to the stricter interpretation of Sony’s new guidelines. However, even this title exhibits a degree of imaginative development that sets it apart from more egregious examples of shovelware, perhaps placing it in a similar category to the “My Name Is Mayo” series – games that, while simple, possess a distinct identity.

The developer has publicly stated that Sony unilaterally terminated their PlayStation developer and publisher agreement without providing any specific reason. This lack of communication leaves Ternox and observers speculating about the precise criteria that led to this sweeping action. Efforts are underway to contact Sony for clarification on this matter. In the interim, Ternox has confirmed its intention to bring “Stonks-9800” to other platforms, including Nintendo Switch and Xbox, underscoring their commitment to their well-received project.