PS3, PSP And PS Vita Stores Are Closing Later This Year [UPDATE]

UPDATE 4/21/21 - Sony Interactive Entertainment president and CEO Jim Ryan took to the PlayStation Blog to confirm that the PS3 and PS Vita stores will not longer be closing. In the update, Ryan also took accountability for the reaction from the community, stating, "Upon further reflection, however, it’s clear that we made the wrong decision here. So today, I’m happy to say that we will be keeping the PlayStation Store operational for PS3 and PS Vita devices. PSP commerce functionality will retire on July 2, 2021, as planned."

Now that the PlayStation 5 generation is here, it looks like Sony is ready to part ways with the PS3, PS Vita, and PSP as its stores are shutting down for good later this year. According to The Gamer, both the PS3 and PSP's stores will be shutting down on July 2, with the PS Vita store following shortly after on August 27. 

With the storefronts reportedly closing, this means that PlayStation fans will no longer be able to buy digital versions of games, DLC, and more that are tied to these three platforms. This also means that many original, digital PlayStation 1 games will no longer be available for purchase. If there’s any game on your PlayStation 3, Vita, or PSP that you want to download, better download it soon. 

Patapon Remastered Comes To PS4 In August

The rhythm/strategy game originally released on PSP, Patapon, is getting a remastered version on PS4 on August 1, 2017. Patapon lets players lead the namesake tribe through a series of battles, fighting opposing armies and huge monsters. The remaster will output in 4K and 1080p. Patapon Remastered was set you back $15, but if you have PS Plus you can pre order the game now and save 20% .

Compensation For The 2011 PSN Breach Are Going Out Now

Remember the 2011 PlayStation Network breach ? Well Sony is now sending out the promised compensation, including free games. Codes for free games are going out now for people who applied for the compensation back in January 2015 when Sony started accepting claims. Anyone who had a PlayStation Network, Qriocity, or Sony Online Entertainment account before May 15, 2011 was able to file a settlement claim. Some of the options include:

• Payment equal to paid wallet balances (if $2 or more) in PSN or SOE accounts that have been inactive since the intrusions.
• One or more of the following: a free PS3 or PSP game (Listed below), 3 free PS3 themes, or a free 3-month subscription to PlayStation Plus.
• A free month of Music Unlimited for Qriocity account holders who did not have a PSN account.
• $4.50 in SOE Station Cash.

The PS3/PSP games are:

• Infamous (PS3)
• LittleBigPlanet (PS3)
• Super Stardust HD (PS3)
• Rain (PS3)
• Dead Nation (PS3)
• LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
• Killzone: Liberation (PSP)
• ModNation Racers (PSP)
• Patapon 3 (PSP)

Sony Is Closing The PSP PS Store

Starting on March 31Sony will close the native PlayStation Store on PlayStation Portable in North America. PSP users will instead have to use the PlayStation Store website to buy new games. Select PSP games are also available for purchase on the PlayStation Store for PlayStation Vita system users. 

The Saints Row PSP Game That Was Cancelled

The site Unseen64 has brought new information about the game to the public with the help of Saints Row developer, Volition. Saints Row: Undercover was supposed to be Volition’s version of Grand Theft Auto on PSP. Volition’s originally wanted to port Saints Row 2 to the PSP, but it wasn’t possible. Instead, Volition decided to start from scratch, and create a sequel to Saints Row 2 designed specifically for the PSP. Undercover was set between the events of Saints Row and Saints Row 2. The game would have players assuming the role of a cop tasked with bringing down the Saints, who would later end up joining them. The main story was 20 missions long, featured everything you would expect from the early Saints Row games. A prototype of the game was created, but Volition decided the game wasn’t up to their standards, thus, the game was never released until today. Volition has released the game’s .ISO file via Unseen64. To see Saints Row: Undercover in action check out the video below. Its a shame that the game was never released, looks kinda cool, but I need to in mind that the game wasn’t released for a reason. What do you think of Saints Row: Undercover ?

PlayStation Turns 20 Next Month

Next month (December 3 to be exact) Marks the 20th anniversary of the PlayStation one release in Japan. This is definitely a milestone for an iconic gaming brand and with that Sony has released a video on YouTube showing the history of PlayStation. Since the launch of the PlayStation 1 in December 1994, Sony has released many devices on it's release including the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation 4 as well as a number of portable devices PSP, PSP GO and PlayStation Vita. The PlayStation brand has changed games forever with the release of the PlayStation 1 and will be the devices that changed it all.

250 Free PSP Games For PS Plus Subscribers In Japan

Sony  announced at their Pre TGS press conference that PlayStation Plus subscribers in Japan will be granted free access to some 250 PSP games for the PS Vita. This offer runs from September 17 until the end of the year.