Waiting until nearly the last possible moment before the July 2nd deadline, Sony has finally updated their Important Notice pages today (EU, NA) with the final verdict on PlayStation Portable content. Although many feared the worst — that PSP games, DLC, demos, and themes would disappear completely — it looks like the majority will continue to be available for purchase from a PlayStation 3 or Vita. Sony’s brief and long overdue confirmation follows:
What does this mean for you?
When the PlayStation®Store for PlayStation®Portable (PSP) was previously closed in 2016, you were still able to perform searches and make in-game purchases. Starting July 6th, 2021, you’ll no longer be able to perform searches or make in-game purchases.What about PSP content that you already own?
You’ll still be able to download your previously purchased PSP content. You can download your previously purchased PSP content onto your PSP by accessing the Download List on the device.What about PSP content that is available for purchase on the PS3 and PS Vita stores?
You’ll still be able to purchase and play PSP content that is available on the PS3 and PS Vita stores. However, you’ll no longer be able to make purchases via the in-game store for PSP content.
Unfortunately, between the rumors of the PlayStation Store shutdown, the initial confirmation from Sony, and their eventual retraction, several titles for all of Sony’s legacy platforms seemingly dropped off of the Store. Submissions to the site came flooding in between March and May noting recent delistings of PSone Classics, handheld titles, and more PlayStation 3 games.
Damage has clearly been done but for now PSP content will remain available alongside that for PlayStation 3 and Vita. I’ll repeat it once again: grab what you can, when you can. We don’t know when Sony will finally decide to pull the plug on the store and older content is always silently dropping off. If you’d like some recommendations on where to start, we have a post on the site for each platform (PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PlayStation Portable + minis) along with a roundup of my own very personal and very odd picks. Thanks to everyone who pointed out the news today.