PlayStation Store support for older consoles will end on July 2, which means gamers won't be able to buy digital legacy games. — TAN KIT HOONG/The Star
Sony is ending PlayStation Store support for a host of older consoles, which will effectively cut off players from some services including buying digital versions of games.
On its support page, the company confirmed that the closure will start with the PlayStation 3 and PSP consoles on July 2, followed by the Vita on Aug 27.
Even with the closure, users will still be able to re-download and play previously purchased games and videos, as well as those claimed via the PlayStation Plus membership.
However, users will no longer be able to purchase digital content including games, videos and in-game purchases. PSN wallet credit or gift cards also cannot be used for the older consoles, though they will remain valid for purchases on PS4 and PS5.
Those who don’t plan to move on to the newer generation consoles can request a refund for any funds left in their wallet. The company said it will update with details on how to request a refund soon.
Kotaku reported that support for the older consoles had been scaled back since the PlayStation web store was revamped last October, removing the option to buy games online and limiting purchases through only the console.
The PlayStation 3 and PSP are more than a decade old, having been released first in Japan in 2006 and 2004 respectively. The Vita, which replaced the PSP as Sony’s mobile console, was released in Japan in 2011.
