PlayStation 3 and Vita digital storefronts are shutting down next year

Back in early 2021, Sony announced its intentions to shut down the online PlayStation 3 and Vita storefronts. After plenty of backlash from fans, the console maker backtracked, pushing back the closure. Unfortunately, this only delayed the inevitable, with Sony now giving us a concrete timeline for the PS3/Vita’s deaths.

Taking to the PlayStation blog to make the announcement, SIE’s senior content communications director Sid Shuman relayed the disappointing news, writing:

“After nearly two decades of supporting the PS3 console generation, we wanted to let you know we will be closing the PlayStation Store on PS3, as well as on PS Vita. PlayStation Store on PS3 will close in select markets starting this year, followed by global closures for PS3 and PS Vita next year.”

While users will still be able to redownload any games which they already own, no new purchases will be possible come this impending closure. Speaking of, Sony did offer a concrete timeline for the shut down, with different regions being impacted at different times:

• Mexico, Honduras, Nicaragua – August 2026
• Other Latin American and Middle Eastern countries – Late 2026
• All other countries (including the UK) – July 2027

This means that most of us still have roughly a year to boost our libraries with any games in our backlogs. This includes many different PS1 and PSP titles which are currently unplayable on PS4/5.

As mentioned, the PS3 and Vita storefronts were initially planned to be shut down half a decade ago now, and was only saved thanks to fan backlash. Given this, we knew the announcement could come at any point, and so it is welcome at least to have had an extra 5 or so more years with these platforms.

KitGuru says: What do you think of the announcement? Was it inevitable? Are there any digital games you still need to pick up? Let us know down below.

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