The online stores for PS3 and PS Vita are scheduled to shut down in 2027.
An article titled 'Notice Regarding PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita' was published on the PlayStation.Blog, announcing that the PS Store for PlayStation 3 (PS3) will be gradually shut down in some countries and regions starting in 2026, and then shut down worldwide for both PS3 and PS Vita in 2027.
Announcement regarding the PlayStation®Store for PS3® and PS Vita – PlayStation.Blog (Japanese)
The PS3 is a home video game console that was released in 2006. After the next-generation console, the PlayStation 4 (PS4), was released in 2013, production of all PS3 models ended in 2017. Then, in 2021, PlayStation updated the 'Important Notices' page on its official website, announcing that the function to purchase new content for PS3 and PlayStation Vita (PS Vita) would be discontinued in the summer of 2021.
PlayStation officially announces it will discontinue the new content purchase function for PS3, Vita, and PSP in the summer of 2021 - GIGAZINE
However, due to strong backlash from users, the closure of the PlayStation Store for PS3, Vita, and PSP was reversed about a month after the announcement. Jim Ryan, who was president and CEO at the time, stated, 'We have concluded that this decision was wrong. We have now learned that many players strongly desire to continue purchasing classic games on PS3 and PS Vita, so we have decided to find a solution to allow this to continue.'
'The closure of the PS3 and Vita online stores was a mistake,' and the decision has been made to continue providing the service - GIGAZINE
While the ability to purchase new content for the PSP was completely disabled on July 2, 2021, purchases for the PS3 and PS Vita were still possible, albeit with some restrictions on payment methods, such as charging via WebMoney.
However, on July 1, 2026, the PlayStation.Blog reiterated that the PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita would be shut down.
In Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua, the PlayStation Store for PS3 will be discontinued from August 2026. In other Central and South American countries and parts of the Middle East, the PlayStation Store for PS3 will be gradually discontinued from the latter half of 2026. In all other countries and regions, the PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita will be discontinued in July 2027. Regarding purchased content, it has been stated that 'you will continue to be able to download it for the time being even after the service ends,' so you will not lose the ability to download content just because the PlayStation Store becomes unavailable.
The reason given for the closure of the PlayStation Store is that it has become difficult to meet the requirements for the latest system updates on PS3 and PS Vita in order to support the latest purchase and payment system.
Sid Schumann, Senior Director of Content Communications at Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE), said, 'We understand that this announcement will be disappointing for users who have been using PS3 and PS Vita. Both the PS3 and PS Vita have been important to the history of PlayStation, and this decision was by no means easy for us. Looking ahead, we will continue to work even harder to deliver the best gaming experience on the devices that more players are currently using. We are deeply grateful to all the players who have continued to support PlayStation. We will continue to push the boundaries of play and work to deliver new gaming experiences. We hope to continue walking into new worlds of gaming and adventures with you in the future.'
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