Tips For The Closing PlayStation Store Part 1: PSP

UPDATE (4/19/21): Sony has announced the PS3 and PS Vita stores will remain open for the foreseeable future.

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Sony has announced the closing of the PSP and PS3 stores on July 2, 2021. Additionally, the PS Vita and Vita TV store will close on August 27th. The content you own, as well as patches, will still be available to download. Yet new purchases will cease on the aforementioned dates. We here at LOGNET wanted to come up with a guide to help our readers develop an action plan if there is something here they need to take advantage of before these stores close for good. 

There are currently 219 PSP games in the PlayStation store. As well as 71 PS One Classic which supports PSP, PS3, and PS Vita Cross-Buy. The PSP is a great handheld that offers HDMI out and a removable battery. In addition to exclusive games in franchises like Final Fantasy, Twisted Metal, SOCOM, Power Stone, and Metal Gear. We highly recommend getting the Memory Stick Pro Duo SD Card adapter to retain game data on Micro SD cards.

Understanding What Is Going Away

Let’s identify what is going to be lost entirely when these stores close. There is some overlap, there are many PS3 and PS Vita games on PS4. In addition to a number of popular Vita games that have been released on Switch. Plus the vast majority of PSP games were physically released and most of them can be purchased today for less than $20. The best thing to do is to come up with a grocery list of games you need to have. Then identify what format and platform these games were released on. Make a plan for the games that are not available on other platforms. These games are going away forever. Here is the list of the types of games that will be gone for good.

• All PSP, PS Vita, and PS3 retail games that never released in a physical format. 
• 82 “PlayStation Minis” (Indie games from 2009-2012). These are a mix of PS3, PSP, and PS Vita. Over 130 of these games have already been removed due to licensing. 
• 71 PSOne Classics. A collection of original US PlayStation games as well as a hidden storefront to Japanese exclusive PSOne games. These are playable on the PS Vita, PSP, and PS3 with Cross-Buy. Over 100 of these tiles have already been pulled due to licensing. 
• 82 PS2 Classics. Over 200 of these tiles have already been pulled due to licensing. These are only playable on the PS3.
• PSP, PS Vita, and PS3 Games with physical versions that are either completely unattainable or out of your budget. Now that the digital stores are closing physical versions of some games have ballooned hundreds of dollars in value. Especially PS2 Classics and Vita games.
• All code redemptions, DLC, and in-game item purchases. This includes any DLC add-ons that may be printed inside the disc packaging. As well as free DLC add-ons, costumes, and items.

See More: Tips For The Closing PlayStation Store Part 2: PS Vita and Vita TV

Games of Note PSP

• PS One Classics $5.99 each
• Gang Wars $2.99
• Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. The PSP is the only place where you can play the original prequel to Final Fantasy VII. If Square Enix never ports this game it could become priceless. If Square Enix decides to do a remaster, history shows that the price will inflate as well. Just assume this game is going to cost more money every passing month. New copies of the game were $15 last year. Today Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII sells at around $60 used. If you love Final Fantasy VII, you must own a PSP and Crisis Core: Final Fantasy VII. If PSP prices go the way of the Vita, this game will be unattainable soon. 
• Final Fantasy III $9.99
• Final Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions. This is an “Updated version” of the PS One strategy game Final Fantasy Tactics. You can still purchase a new copy of the game on Amazon as of today for $30. There are few copies left and that is nearly double the price it was last year. It’s not likely Square Enix will port this game to other platforms or remake it. For the foreseeable future, this game will die with the PSP store. 

Expensive Physical Games You May Want To Own Digitally

• Lunar: Silver Star Harmony. $14.99 over on the PSN is a lot for your average PSP game. Although it may be worth it. According to PriceCharting.com Lunar is the most expensive physical PSP game after the three Persona titles. 
• The PowerStone Collection (PowerStone 1 & 2). These two Dreamcast classic titles alone go for as much as $200. Combined together on the PSP, they are very pricey as well. Over on the old storefront, they are $9.99 in a portable collection.
• Shin Megami Tensei: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin and Persona 3 Portable. It should be noted physical copies of these games have gone for as much as $500. With the old PlayStation store closing, physical copies of all three games will increase in price. This is your final chance to get these games for $9.99 each. 
• Silent Hill: Origins and Silent Hill: Shattered Memories. During the pandemic, all physical Silent Hill games on all platforms have dramatically increased in price. While it appears Silent Hill: Shattered Memories has already been pulled from the PSP store as well as the PS2 Classic collection. With that Silent Hill: Origins can be purchased today for $9.99.

See More: Tips For The Closing PlayStation Store Part 3: PS3

PS One Classics