Ternox Games says Sony has ended its PlayStation developer and publishing agreement without providing a reason. The decision means the studio’s existing catalogue is scheduled to leave the PlayStation Store after August 23, 2026.
The affected catalogue includes 14 games, among them STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator, the indie release that launched in 2023. Ternox Games says the termination also prevents it from self-publishing future games on PlayStation.
The announcement arrived on August 16, giving the developer less than a week before the delisting date. In a statement shared on X, Ternox Games said PlayStation Support had not responded to its emails or considered its arguments. Automaton also reported on the sudden termination.
STONKS-9800 will not be coming to PS5.
Sony @PlayStation unilaterally terminated my PlayStation developer and publisher agreement without giving me any reason.
My existing games are scheduled to be removed from the PlayStation Store after August 23. pic.twitter.com/NQRnAmdyRb
— Ternox Games (@Taimumari), August 16, 2026
Planned PS5 release is also cancelled
Ternox Games had hoped to bring STONKS-9800 to PS5 in 2027 and produce a physical disc edition. The developer now says that plan will not proceed, although it intends to try making physical editions for PC and Nintendo Switch instead.
For players who collect games on dedicated hardware, the situation highlights how digital storefront decisions can affect access to smaller releases. Physical editions may offer an alternative, but Ternox Games has not announced a release date or confirmed availability for those versions.
Why were the games removed?
Sony has been removing large numbers of games from the PlayStation Store as part of an apparent effort against shovelware. More than 1,000 titles were reportedly removed in March 2026 alone. However, Ternox Games’ catalogue is not made up exclusively of low-effort releases.
Some entries, including Finger Fitness, have attracted questions about their place in the storefront. Other projects are more recognisably small-scale independent games, such as Taimumari: Complete Edition, a low-budget platformer rather than a typical shovelware release.
The studio’s recent work has also received a stronger response. STONKS-9800: Stock Market Simulator was expected to launch on PlayStation, despite its deliberately unusual title, and currently holds an “Overwhelmingly Positive” rating on Steam from almost 3,000 reviews.
Automation remains one possible explanation
There is no confirmed explanation for Sony’s decision. One possibility is that an automated review or enforcement process flagged several Ternox Games releases, leading to the removal of the publisher’s wider catalogue. That remains speculation unless Sony explains the termination or changes its decision.
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