PlayStation 3 users have reportedly found that updates to some games are no longer available for download. This means that players who own these games in digital or physical format will no longer be able to download the latest version of the software if they have not already done so. PSNProfiles and ResetEra users are reporting the problem. Some users have been tasked with compiling a list of games that no longer offer updates, but it’s unclear if this is a temporary issue or a deliberate move by Sony. Regardless, fans of the console are very concerned about what it might mean.
Reports come just weeks after Sony announced that the PS3 store will close on July 2nd. While this news has been a big disappointment to those interested in preserving video games, at least gamers have had a significant amount of time to prepare and buy games before picking them up. Comparatively, the removal of these updates occurred without notice and could have a significant impact on some games. At a time when patches have become the norm on the first day, the idea of removing updates is certainly worrisome.
The deletion of these updates highlights one of the most important issues facing the video game industry. Video games released 20-30 years ago remain mostly playable as intended. Retro enthusiasts are often forced to jump through some hoops to play in them, but the games still reflect the final version on offer. For modern games, this may not be the case. The updates have given developers much more freedom to fix issues that are discovered after a game is released. Unfortunately, if these updates are not available for download, the version sent will be the one that can be played after the fact, the warts and all.
Sony has not confirmed the removal of these updates and it is possible that everything is a big accident. However, PS3 fans may want to upgrade their games to current versions to be on the safe side. It could mean the difference between playing the best version of a game and one that doesn’t reflect the developer’s final vision.
Worried that Sony will remove these updates from the PS3 store? What do you think about the preservation of video games? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts directly on Twitter at @Marcdachamp to talk about all the games!