Unraveling the Mysteries Behind SONY's Recent Game Delistings: A Comprehensive Look

Video gaming has famously swift redistribution, censorship, bans and assertion of jurisdiction. But few events get gamers as worked up as delisted games, especially when Steam or PSN exclusives get dropped from major platforms. One of the most recent examples of this is Sony's move to delist the PC version of the Ghosts of Tsushima: DIRECTOR'S CUT. For months, the official PlayStation website (and social media channels of its various support accounts) has been having to clarify its stance on game delisting and contra-deals. So, what exactly is going on? In this article, we’ll tackle that question and look at each side of why titles get delisted as well as the implications for gamers. We’ll also get some insight into what it takes to logistically and strategically delist games on Sony’s end, go over what makes Sony a gaming behemoth, then finish up with an FAQ on selling Sony products through Gizmogo.

SONY's Strategic Shuffle: A Gamer's Dilemma

This July, Sony’s PlayStation Studios subsidiary shocked the world of PC gaming when it announced that it was delisting Ghosts of Tsushima: DIRECTOR’S CUT from Steam’s catalogue in more than 170 countries, just months after the title’s initial release. Sony had faced backlash and promptly delisted Helldivers 2, another PlayStation Studios title from another Sony subsidiary, Arrowhead Studio, over mandated PSN account linking requirements to play the game. Why was Sony delisting a bestselling Japanese samurai game from Steam in mid-2022 nearly a year after its inaugural release? What does regional sales and digital rights-management strategy reveal about tenuous Windows PC gaming markets and the underlying experiences of players when publishers like Sony flip the script to favour console release?

Analyzing the Ghosts of Tsushima Conundrum

A Surprising Delisting

One of the most anticipated titles of summer 2020, Ghosts of Tsushima was the first action-adventure game from US developer Sucker Punch Productions. On the Friday before the highly publicized PC release, the game became embroiled in a controversy that nearly resulted in its delisting less than a week before the planned launch – here’s why a single-player PC port struggled with multilayer concessions.

PSN Account Linking: The Crux of the Matter

At the core of this conundrum is the PSN account linking requirement that was implemented ‘to access co-op multiplayer features’ — and that was basically just exclusionary instead, and alienated a worldwide fanbase in the process, to massive confusion and upset. Sony has to strike a particularly delicate balance between enhancing the user experience and enacting harsh digital policies.

SONY's Response and the Path Forward

The immediate backlash that resulted from these delistings meant that Sony suddenly had to rethink policy. It seems an obvious punt as to what will happen in regard to Sony’s global digital distribution strategy – but perhaps not. This is the third part of our three-part series looking at Sony’s handling of the user backlash, understanding whether it matters and what they need to do to help manage it from here.

Why SONY Reigns Supreme in the Gaming World

Despite some recent controversy, Sony as a gaming powerhouse is practically beyond reproach. Its track-record of innovation, the titles it has brought to gamers, and understanding their ever-changing expectations is a major reason why it is many gamer’s primary go-to game console. Here we’ll break down the foundations of Sony’s video game success and their roadmap for the medium.

Navigating the Sell with Gizmogo: Your Sony FAQs Answered

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What Sony Products Can I Sell on Gizmogo?

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Is My Data Safe When I Sell My Sony Device?

Find out more about their data privacy policy and how your info stays secure throughout the sales process.

How Do I Determine the Value of My Sony Product?

Find out what determines the value of your Sony device and how we at Gizmogo make sure we give you a fair one.

Why Choose Gizmogo for Selling Your Sony Electronics?

Find out more about why selling your old Sony products at Gizmogo is a great choice – you will receive top paying prices, maintain an eco-friendly lifestyle, and benefit from great customer service.

About Sony

From its founding in 1946, Sony has conquered the worlds of electronics, entertainment and gaming. As a tech and media multinational, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan, Sony has always sought to push technological and creative envelopes, and it plays a key role in helping make the realities of multimedia and interactive experiences possible. Sony is the maker of the world’s best-selling computer game console, the PlayStation, having sold more than 500 million consoles since the release of the first PlayStation in 1994. The company has built a diverse portfolio of cutting-edge hardware products that also includes the Sony Ericsson Smartphone and the Wega TV. Sony is also a leading manufacturer of audio, video, imaging and gaming products. Sony has made a very deliberate choice to lead the way in every microscopic detail they can.

In conclusion, although Sony’s recent game delistings have attracted enormous attention and consternation from gamers around the world, they also highlight the complicated nature of global digital distribution, as well as the struggles companies might face in their attempt to balance users’ experience and players’ demands vis-à-vis regulatory compliance. So, while Sony faces arduous work going forward, its history has demonstrated that its commitment to both innovation and to listening to what users want to play is a solid platform from which they can sustain growth in the coming years of the digital entertainment industry. Regardless of how long Ghosts of Tsushima remains available for, let this lesson in digital distribution be kept as the saga of support; it bookmarks the relationship between technology companies, the devices and software they create, and consumers that they pass their stuff on to.