Sony looks set to both surprise and upset gamers later this month with the announcement that digital stores for the PS3, PS Vita, and the PSP are shutting down.
As TheGamer reports, for now this is unconfirmed news, but a verified source has told the website we should expect an official announcement confirming the closures before the end of March. The PS3 and PSP stores will then apparently close on July 2, with the PS Vita store going offline on August 27.
If true, it would see a massive library of old games disappear, leaving only used physical copies to meet demand. Just as importantly, it would also mean purchased games and any DLC packs can no longer be downloaded. So, for example, when the hard drive dies in your PS3, your digital games will die with it after July 2.
This is a stark reminder of the fact that, while digital games are extremely convenient, they have a lifetime limited by the company running the online store and the storage media in your gaming device. Meanwhile, you'll still be able to pick up a used PS3, PS Vita, or PSP for many years to come in order to play any games you own on physical media.