PlayStation 3 users have reportedly noticed that updates for some games are no longer available for download. This means that players who own these games in a digital or physical format will no longer be able to download the most recent version of the software if they have not already done so. PSNProfiles and ResetEra users are both reporting the problem. Some users have taken it upon themselves to compile a list of games that no longer offer updates, but it’s unclear whether this is a temporary problem or an intentional move by Sony. Regardless, fans of the console are quite concerned about what it could mean.
The reports come just weeks after Sony announced that the PS3 Store will close on July 2. While that news is a major disappointment to those interested in video game preservation, at least players have been given a significant amount of time to prepare and purchase games before they are removed. In comparison, the removal of these updates came without any warning and could have a major impact on some games. In an era when day one patches have become the norm, the idea of removing updates is certainly concerning.
Removing these updates highlights one of the biggest issues facing the video game industry in the future. Video games released 20-30 years ago largely remain playable as intended. Retro enthusiasts are often forced to jump through some hoops to play them, but the games still mirror the final version on offer. For modern games, this may not be the case. Updates have given developers much more freedom to fix issues discovered after a game’s release. Unfortunately, if those updates aren’t available for download, the included version is the one that remains playable after the fact, warts and all.
Sony has not confirmed the removal of these updates and it is possible that all of this may be one major accident. However, PS3 fans will want to update their games to the current versions just in case. It could mean the difference between playing the best version of a game and a version that doesn’t reflect the developer’s ultimate vision.
Are you concerned that Sony is removing these updates from the PS3 Store? What do you think about video game storage? Let us know in the comments or share your thoughts directly on Twitter @Marcdachamp to talk about gaming!