Sony is actively removing low-quality games to maintain a neat PlayStation catalog.

      Sony is quickly removing the least desirable games from the PlayStation Store, but this action alone won't resolve the issue of Shovelware.

      If you've browsed the PlayStation Store and found games with oddly recognizable titles, characters, or graphics—yet characterized by cheap reskins and a lack of originality—Sony has finally taken notice.

      The company has discreetly eliminated the entire catalogs of three publishers from the PlayStation Store: GoGame Console Publisher, VRCForge Studios, and Welding Byte. This action was initially spotted on PSNProfiles, affecting well-known titles such as Urban Driver Simulator, Water Blast Shooter – Wet Gun, and Supermarket CEO Simulator (as reported by EuroGamer).

      What is Shovelware?

      Shovelware refers to games that are created with little effort, often mimicking popular titles to capitalize on their fame, and are designed to enable players to easily earn achievements or unlock Trophies. They resemble cheap imitations of successful titles that somehow made their way onto the PlayStation Store by taking advantage of its relatively accessible submission process.

      To enhance its digital storefront and offer PlayStation users a more curated experience, this recent update is intended to assist. Notably, this marks Sony's third round of removals in 2026.

      The fourth-largest publisher on the PlayStation Store, which has over a thousand titles, was completely removed in January 2026, followed by the purging of CHI Laba and Nostra Games in March. The April removals occurred less than two weeks after the March actions.

      Is Sony’s crackdown effective?

      In part. These removals appear to be linked to the Shared Commitment to Safer Gaming, a collaborative initiative among three major companies: Sony, Xbox, and Nintendo. This institutional support lends more credibility to Sony’s recent efforts compared to earlier, stand-alone cleanups.

      However, in practice, the issue continues to exist within the PlayStation Store. Sony's strategy is still reactive, meaning the company reacts to flagged content rather than proactively preventing low-effort games from appearing in the store. Moreover, previously banned content often reemerges under new titles.

      Until submission standards are tightened, it may be difficult for Sony to maintain control. In my view, Sony should shift from a reactive approach of delisting to a proactive method of gatekeeping submissions; otherwise, this cycle is likely to persist. Nevertheless, the latest efforts are commendable.

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      Netflix has launched a new gaming app for children that eliminates ads and payments.

      Netflix Playground aims to make screen time more appealing for families. It's a new standalone gaming app designed specifically for kids aged 8 and under, featuring no ads, no in-app purchases, and no additional costs on top of an existing Netflix subscription. Currently available in the US, Canada, UK, Australia, the Philippines, and New Zealand, it is set to expand worldwide on April 28.

      What activities are available for kids on Netflix Playground?

      McDonald's has developed an innovative controller hack to address a common gaming issue.

      Every gamer knows a particular kind of frustration: you step away for a quick snack, return, and your character is idle, your mission has failed, or worse, you’ve been booted from the session. It’s a brief absence with disproportionately large repercussions. Despite progress in gaming, this oddly universal challenge persists.

      A fast-food solution for a fast-paced problem.

      Leaks suggest Xbox Cloud Gaming may resurrect classic games that have been lost.

      Hidden activity within the backend hints at a larger initiative to revive delisted and older Xbox games for cloud gaming and future hardware.

      Recent leaks regarding Xbox Cloud Gaming reflect a long-standing desire among players to bring back older titles that have quietly vanished. Activity within Microsoft’s cloud systems suggests it may be testing how to reintroduce classic releases, such as Xbox 360 games, on modern platforms.

      Dataminers monitoring xCloud noted that several legacy games briefly appeared before being removed, including Aegis Wing, Mars War Logs, and Prince of Persia: Sands of Time, all listed with strange placeholder information like incorrect pricing.