Addressing a rumor that appeared via TheGamer, and recently discussed on the most recent edition of The Outerhaven’s Spectator Mode podcast, Sony has announced that access to store pages for legacy services such as the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita, will be discontinued.
In an email that was recently sent out to anyone who has a PlayStation account, Sony outlined the process that they will undertake to move forward from these legacy platforms to focus on more PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 accessibility and services. The email also addresses the concerns that users might have around access to downloadable content and games that they paid for through the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita services during the lifespan of those consoles. You can read the full extract below:
We are closing PlayStation™Store on PlayStation®3 on 2 July 2021 and on PlayStation®Vita devices on 27 August 2021. Additionally, the remaining purchase functionality for PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) will also retire on 2 July 2021. After thoughtful consideration, we decided to make these changes in an effort to focus our resources for PlayStation Store on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5, which will enable us to enhance the customer experience even further. We thank you for your support on these platforms throughout the years.
What does this mean for you?
You will no longer be able to purchase PS3, PS Vita and PSP digital content, including games and video content.You will also no longer be able to make in-game purchases through games on PS3, PS Vita and PSP.
While the PSP storefront was previously closed in 2016, the remaining PSP purchase functionality (e.g. in-game purchases) will now be fully retired.
What about content you already own?
• You will still be able to download your owned PS3, PS Vita, and PSP content, including games and video content.
• You can download your owned content onto your PS3, PS Vita, or PSP by accessing the Download List on the respective device.
• If you have purchased a PS3/PS Vita cross-buy bundle and have only downloaded either the PS3 or PS Vita version, you will need to download the other version prior to the closure of PlayStation™Store on the relevant device.
• Video content that you own can be streamed on PS3, PS4 or PS5 through the My Videos app, or on mobile devices through the PlayStation™Video app.
• You will still be able to re-download and play game titles you have claimed through PlayStation®Plus as long as you remain a member of the service.What about vouchers, wallet funds, and cross-buy content?
• You will still be able to redeem game and PlayStation®Plus vouchers on PS3, PS Vita, and PSP devices once PlayStation™Store and purchase functionality for these devices close.
• You will no longer be able to redeem PSN wallet fund vouchers (e.g. gift cards) on PS3, PS Vita, and PSP devices once PlayStation™Store and purchase functionality for these devices close.
• Your PSN wallet funds will remain in your PSN account, but you will only be able to use your wallet funds to purchase PS4 and PS5 products on PlayStation™Store on the web, PlayStation®App, or on PS4 and PS5 consoles.
• You will still be able to purchase cross-buy content through PlayStation™Store on the web, PlayStation®App, or on PS4 and PS5 consoles and access both the PS4 version and the PS3/PS Vita/PSP versions.Where can you find out more?
Read our FAQ for more information: https://www.playstation.com/support/important-notice/
The reaction on Twitter and other social media has caused a mass downloading of PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, PlayStation One, and PlayStation Portable games and DLC since people have not read the whole article on this and many other websites that state that you WILL STILL BE ABLE TO ACCESS YOUR CONTENT once the changes take place in July and August. Sony is only removing the ability to buy games and DLC for those consoles, not the access to them.
While Sony has done the right thing in regards to access, it could be only a matter of time before the access could be removed to make more space for PlayStation 4 & PlayStation 5 content as the shift to a fully digital marketplace for console games continues to gain momentum.
I may have been subliminally panic downloading.#PS3 pic.twitter.com/hPdN5iqVuN
— Simon Lock (Aergan) (@A3rgan) March 30, 2021
This is an issue for game preservationists, as there are many titles on those systems that consumers will lose complete access to since Sony does not like the idea of backward compatibility, and some games do not have remasters to remakes on more current generational consoles. This could lead to PlayStation 3, PlayStation Portable, and PlayStation Vita consoles increasing in price (Like they did when PT was removed from the PlayStation 4) or an increase of people jailbreaking their consoles and going through illegal channels to access the content.
