Sony just conducted digital spring cleaning of epic proportions. German publisher ThiGames – previously PS Store’s 4th largest with 1,196 games – saw its entire catalog silently delisted across all regions. Streamer RobThanatos first noticed January 14 when searching for The Jumping Taco returned zero results despite existing trophies. Within hours, every ThiGames title confirmed removed globally.
The Jumping Empire Falls
ThiGames specialized in hyper-simple trophy bait. The Jumping series dominated catalog – Taco, Fries, Pizza, Nuggets, Churros, Hot Dog, even Jumping Wrap TURBO. Gameplay consisted literally pressing X to jump 500 times earning Platinum trophy in 90 seconds. Priced $1.50-$3, titles sold enough during sales to justify endless asset flips.
Other hits included Jumping Pumpkin (500 jumps), Jumping Bonbon Match 5 (match 3 variants), and endless platformers/racers requiring minimal input. TrueTrophies database showed 95% completion rates averaging 0-0.5 hours. Perfect recipe for trophy hunters chasing leaderboard positions without gameplay effort.
Sony’s Silent Crackdown
No warning, no announcement, no appeals process. Games vanished overnight leaving trophies intact but unearnable. PSN profiles still display Platinums from deleted titles. ThiGames absent from publisher rankings despite occupying 4th place days prior.
Last title released January 7 – Jumping Bonbon Match 5. Publisher silent across all channels. Sony provided no rationale though precedent exists. 2025 saw RandomSpin (30+ AI slop titles) similarly purged after IGN exposé. Nintendo eShop adjusted rankings deprioritizing $1 shovelware same period.
Business Model Exposed
| Game Type | Playtime | Platinum Rate | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Jumping Taco | 1.5 min | 97% | $1.99 |
| Jumping Fries | 2 min | 96% | $1.49 |
| Pumpkin Jumps | 90 sec | 98% | $1.99 |
| Bonbon Match 5 | 3 min | 94% | $2.49 |
Economics simple: $1.50 storefront fee per title amortized across 10-20 sales equals pure profit. Scale to 1,200 games equals steady revenue flooding PS Store with clones. Sales events amplified visibility guaranteeing minimum buyers regardless quality.
Industry-Wide Problem
ThiGames represented tip of shovelware iceberg. Webnetic ranks 3rd with similar model untouched (for now). Steam’s endless achievement farms, App Store’s screenshot-optimized clones, Xbox’s 1,000 achievement bundles – all exploit completionist psychology identically.
PlayStation trophy hunters specifically targeted. Leaderboard pressure drove demand for fastest Platinums. Developers optimized accordingly – minimal gameplay maximizing trophy density. Perfect feedback loop until Sony intervened.
What Happens to Existing Owners
- Trophies Remain: Unlocked Platinums stay forever
- Games Unplayable: No re-downloads post-delisting
Save Data Preserved: Cloud saves intact (unusable) - Refunds Unlikely: $2 purchases too small for processing
Collectors lose access entirely. Trophy hunters celebrate cleaner leaderboards. Genuine indies gain breathing room amidst slop deluge burying legitimate releases.
Aftermath and Precedent
PS Store immediately cleaner. Search results favor quality titles over endless Jumping variants. Webnetic nervously watches as #3 publisher. Sony establishes clear precedent – mass shovelware operations face termination regardless sales volume.
Community debates continue. Some defend cheap thrills, others celebrate curation. Reality lands middle ground – trophy farming legitimate hobby, blatant asset abuse crosses line. Sony draws boundary protecting platform reputation over microtransaction revenue.
FAQs
Why did Sony delete these games?
Quality control crackdown targeting trophy farm operations. ThiGames represented extreme case flooding store with 1,196 near-identical clones.
Do trophies disappear too?
No – unlocked achievements preserved forever. New players simply can’t earn them anymore.
Will I get refunds?
Don’t hold breath. $1.50-$3 purchases deemed too small despite mass delisting.
Other publishers at risk?
Webnetic (#3) exhibits identical model. Expect rolling enforcement rather than mass purge.
Were games actually playable?
Barely. Press X 500 times. Match 3 variants. Under 5 minutes total commitment earning Platinum.
Storefront noticeably cleaner now?
Significantly. Jumping Taco variants buried genuine indies – now discoverable.
Sony announce anything officially?
Not yet. Silent execution mirrors RandomSpin purge last year.
Curated Future Ahead
Sony declares war on digital slop polluting PS Store. 1,196 games gone in blink cleans interface dramatically. Genuine developers breathe easier discovering audiences again. Trophy hunters recalibrate strategies targeting legitimate challenges.
Platform stewardship triumphs microtransaction greed. Clean store benefits everyone long-term. ThiGames serves warning to copycats – mass shovelware operations face extinction regardless sales figures.