The PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop are experiencing an influx of low-quality games, often described as "slop," raising concerns among users. These games, frequently simulation titles, utilize generative AI for misleading marketing materials and often bear striking resemblance to popular titles, sometimes even copying names. This issue, initially more prominent on the eShop, has recently spread to the PlayStation Store, particularly impacting the "Games to Wishlist" section.
The problem isn't simply the presence of bad games; it's the overwhelming quantity of nearly identical, low-effort titles flooding the stores, overshadowing legitimate releases. These games often feature poor controls, technical issues, and limited gameplay, failing to meet the promises made on their store pages. A small number of companies appear responsible for this surge, making them difficult to identify and hold accountable due to limited online presence and frequent name changes.
User frustration has led to calls for stricter storefront regulation. To understand the situation, this investigation examines the game release process across different platforms and explores why some stores are more affected than others.
The Certification Process
Interviews with eight game development and publishing professionals (all requesting anonymity) revealed insights into the game release process on Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The general process involves pitching to the platform holder, completing forms detailing game specifics, and undergoing certification ("cert"). Cert verifies technical compliance with platform requirements, legal adherence, and ESRB rating accuracy. While platform holders emphasize age rating accuracy, the cert process primarily focuses on technical specifications and doesn't equate to a full QA check. Developers often receive limited feedback on submission failures, particularly from Nintendo.
Store Page Review
Platform holders require accurate game representation on store pages, but enforcement varies. While Nintendo and Xbox review all page changes, PlayStation conducts a single check near launch, and Valve only reviews the initial submission. The accuracy of game descriptions and screenshots is checked, but standards are loosely defined, allowing misleading content to slip through. Consequences for inaccurate information typically involve removal of the offending content, rather than more severe penalties. Importantly, none of the console storefronts have specific rules regarding generative AI use in games or marketing materials, although Steam requests disclosure.
Platform Differences
The disparity in "slop" across platforms stems from differences in the approval process. Microsoft vets games individually, while Nintendo, Sony, and Valve vet developers. This allows easier mass releases for approved developers on the latter three platforms. Xbox's game-by-game vetting process, coupled with its hands-on approach to store page development, contributes to its relative immunity to the "slop" problem. Nintendo's developer-based approval and lack of robust storefront organization make it particularly susceptible. A common tactic involves repeatedly releasing bundles with minimal changes to maintain high visibility on "New Releases" and "Discounts" sections. PlayStation's "Games to Wishlist" sorting by release date exacerbates the issue, highlighting upcoming releases regardless of quality.
Steam, despite having potentially the most "slop," faces less criticism due to its robust search and filtering options and constantly updating new releases section. Nintendo's poorly organized New Releases section, however, directly contributes to the problem.
Calls for Regulation and Potential Solutions
Users have urged Nintendo and Sony to address the issue, but neither company responded to requests for comment. Developers express pessimism regarding Nintendo's ability to solve the problem, even with the upcoming Switch 2. While Nintendo's web browser-based eShop is considered functional, the console app remains problematic. Sony has addressed similar issues in the past, suggesting potential future action. However, overly aggressive filtering, as demonstrated by Nintendo Life's "Better eShop" attempt, can inadvertently harm legitimate games. Concerns exist that stricter regulation could unintentionally target quality software. Ultimately, the challenge lies in balancing the need to prevent misleading marketing and low-quality releases with the desire to avoid overly restrictive policies that stifle independent developers. The human element in reviewing submissions also plays a significant role, making it difficult to consistently differentiate between genuinely bad games and deliberate attempts to flood the market with low-effort titles.
