A Brazilian indie studio, Afil Games, is facing a backlash as its catalog is being pulled from the PlayStation Store.
Founded with the mission to “create fun, casual, and accessible games,” Afil Games has published over 140 titles across PS4 and PS5, including titles such as Piggy’s Farm, Snack and Quack, The Cute Whale, Axobubble, and Slap the Rocks.
Critics argue that the studio’s releases are often low‑effort, shovelware that still offer PlayStation trophies—including rare Platinums—making them an attractive purchase for trophy collectors seeking quick, inexpensive additions to their collections.
Players who prioritize trophy hunting are reportedly drawn to these games, buying them in bulk to rapidly amass trophies, regardless of the actual gameplay quality.
Sony has intensified its crackdown on certain developers in recent months, and Afil Games has just confirmed on X that the company has barred it from launching any new titles on both PS4 and PS5, while also planning to pull its existing catalog from the platform.
In a formal statement, Afil Games announced, “We would like to share an important update regarding our releases for the PlayStation platform.” The developer went on to explain that, since the start of the year, PlayStation has tightened its publishing criteria.
“These new guidelines clash with our business model, leading PlayStation to discontinue its partnership with Afil Games for future releases,” the company added, expressing gratitude to its fanbase for their unwavering support.
❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is Sony removing all of Afil Games' titles from the PlayStation Store?
Sony has tightened its quality control and trophy integrity guidelines, and Afil Games has been found to produce a large number of low‑effort, shovelware titles that still offer PlayStation trophies, including rare Platinums. This violates Sony’s stricter standards, prompting the removal of the studio’s entire catalog from the store.
What impact does this have on trophy hunters who used Afil Games' titles?
Trophy hunters who bought Afil Games’ titles in bulk to quickly amass trophies will lose access to those games and the trophies they earned. They may need to wait for the titles to become available again, find alternative games, or adjust their trophy‑hunting strategies to avoid future removals.
Will Afil Games be able to release new titles on PlayStation in the future?
Sony has barred Afil Games from launching any new titles on both PS4 and PS5 for the time being. The studio will need to address Sony’s stricter guidelines and demonstrate compliance before it can regain the ability to publish on the platform.
News Source: VGC
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