PlayStation Shovelware Crackdown Continues With Webnetic Games


It looks like Sony is continuing its mission to clear the PlayStation Store of ‘shovelware’ games after publisher Webnetic announced its “journey on PlayStation” will soon “come to an end.”

Sony has been working on uncluttering its digital storefront over the last few months. Most of its time has been spent targeting shovelware, a term used to refer to cheaply produced and exploitative games that have been known to flood store pages with experiences often labeled as knockoffs and low-effort.

Sony removed hundreds of PlayStation Store games from publisher ThiGames in January and then turned its sights to GoGame Console Publisher, VRCForge Studios, and Welding Byte in April. Now, it looks like Webnetic is next on the chopping block.

Webnetic Announces Removal from PlayStation Store. Screenshot captured by IGN.

The publisher – which is responsible for multiple versions of August 2022’s The Golden Age and multiple versions of its September 2022 follow-up The Copper Age – took to its X/Twitter account to announce a new direction for its expansive catalog today. It says “these are our final days on PlayStation,” ushering players to check out its games “before they’re gone.”

“As our journey on PlayStation comes to an end, we want to thank everyone who played our games, supported our releases, and joined us along the way,” Webnetic said.

A quick look on the PlayStation Store shows that Webnetic is responsible for 128 individually named video games, including both PS4 and PS5 versions of some of the same titles and their many, many sequels. Trophy-tracker websites like TrueTrophies note that Webnetic is also listed as the publisher of versions of games for different territories.

Its 2025 game, A House That Glows, for example, shows as having eight different game options available for players to purchase and farm trophies through. Webnetic has many similar examples throughout its catalog, boosting its reported total number of PlayStation games to a breathtaking 1,274 titles. TrueTrophies names it as the publisher with the fourth most games on the digital store.

Webnetic signed off its goodbye message to PlayStation fans by saying that “this isn’t the end for us.” Those looking to keep up with its work were encouraged to head to Xbox, Nintendo, and Steam, where it will continue publishing “more exciting projects,” including updates for Panic House: Awakening.

It’s unclear when exactly Webnetic will have its games removed from the PlayStation Store. In the meantime, you can read IGN’s deep dive into the world of “Eslop” online.

Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).



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