PS5 Shovelware Developer Confirms Stricter Sony Publishing Guidelines
Sony is continuing its aggressive cleanup of the PlayStation Store, as another developer has confirmed that the platform holder is enforcing stricter publishing guidelines. Afil Games, a Brazil-based studio known for low-effort titles like Collie Call and Cute Bonfire, announced today that it will no longer be releasing games on the PS5.
In a statement released via social media, the developer explicitly linked its departure from the ecosystem to these updated policies. "PlayStation has been implementing stricter guidelines for publishing games on its platform," the studio noted. As a result of these changes, the developer confirmed that not only are future projects canceled for the console, but its entire existing library of titles will be removed from the PlayStation Store in the near future.
- Developer: Afil Games
- Platform Affected: PlayStation 5
- Action: Future releases canceled; existing titles to be removed
- Context: Part of a broader 2026 crackdown on low-effort software
A Broader Crackdown on 'Shovelware'
This move is part of a much larger initiative by Sony to purge the storefront of what is commonly referred to as "shovelware." These titles, often characterized by asset flips and repetitive design, have frequently been criticized for existing primarily to provide players with easy Trophy lists. Sony has been notably active in this area throughout 2026, having already removed tens of thousands of similar titles from the PS5 and PS4 storefronts earlier this year.
For players who have engaged with these titles, the shift marks a significant change in the availability of low-budget, high-frequency releases on the platform. While the era of these specific titles on PlayStation is coming to a close, Afil Games has stated that it remains "committed to bringing new experiences" to other platforms, specifically naming the Xbox One, Xbox Series, Microsoft Store, and Nintendo Switch.
The cleanup effort shows no signs of slowing down, as Sony continues to refine its submission process to prioritize software quality on the PlayStation 5. For now, the departure of studios like Afil Games serves as a clear indicator of the new, higher barrier to entry for developers on the PS Store.