Buzz
Sony intends to shift the PlayStation Network’s website focus to PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 games after the new console’s release. While this makes sense, it also means you won’t be able to purchase PS3, PS Vita, or PSP games, downloadable content, PS1 classics, or the limited “PS Minis” collection via the PSN website on desktop or mobile.
Additionally, the PSN “Wishlist” feature is being discontinued, and all saved wishlist items will be deleted. Unfortunately, these updates will start rolling out on Oct. 21 and will be fully in place by Oct. 26.
Sony has clarified that these changes only impact the mobile and web stores. You can still purchase games and download previous purchases directly on your older consoles, though the process is more cumbersome than Sony suggests.
The PSP lacks a dedicated storefront, requiring users to purchase games via the web, download them to a PC or PS3, and then transfer them to the PSP using a USB or SD card. The PS3’s PSN app can be sluggish and awkward to navigate, while the Vita fails to display the complete store catalog even when sorted alphabetically. Searching for a specific game by name might yield better results, but there’s no guarantee it will appear.
Due to these challenges, many players likely favor purchasing PS3, Vita, and PSP games through the web store on a PC or mobile device. However, this option will no longer be available once Sony updates the PSN website.
This makes it essential to utilize the PSN web store to buy or download PSP, PS3, and PS Vita games while it’s still accessible. Be sure to clear out your wishlist as well before the feature is discontinued, as finding and purchasing those games later could become a hassle. You’ll appreciate having taken the time to do so.
How to locally back up your older PSN games
It’s also wise to back up all of your PSN purchases in case any items unexpectedly vanish from your download list. The method varies by console and may be time-consuming if you own a large digital collection, but the effort will pay off in the long run.
Owners of the PlayStation 3 can move their data to an external USB hard drive by utilizing the console’s Backup Utility.
PlayStation Vita users have the option to save their games and progress to a PS3 or PC through the PS Vita Content Manager application.
PlayStation Portable enthusiasts can back up their data to a PC or PS3 using a USB micro cable or by transferring their SD card to a computer. Additionally, they can download their PSP games to a PS3 or PS Vita via PSN.
To clarify, downloading and storing all your old PSN games locally before Oct. 21 is not mandatory; your PSP, Vita, and PS3 games will still appear in your PSN downloads list as long as they remain accessible on PSN. However, transferring locally stored content will be far more convenient than navigating the unreliable PSN stores (or their absence) on older PlayStation consoles. Taking these steps now will prevent future frustrations when Sony eventually discontinues all PSN support for these legacy systems.
