'I Could Make \"Fart Fart Boobie Fart: The Game\" and Maybe It Would Eventually Get Taken Down' - Devs Reveal Why the Consoles Are Drowning in 'Eslop'

The PlayStation Store and Nintendo eShop are experiencing an influx of low-quality games, often described as "slop," raising concerns among users. These games, frequently simulation titles, utilize generative AI for misleading marketing materials and often bear striking similarities to popular titles, sometimes even copying names and themes. This issue, initially prominent on the eShop, has recently spread to the PlayStation Store, particularly impacting the "Games to Wishlist" section.

The problem extends beyond simple "bad" games; it's a deluge of nearly identical titles overshadowing higher-quality releases. These games typically feature perpetually discounted prices, hyper-stylized AI-generated art that misrepresents gameplay, and often suffer from poor controls and technical flaws. A small number of companies appear responsible for this mass production, making them difficult to identify and hold accountable due to limited online presence and frequent name changes.

User complaints have intensified, particularly regarding the eShop's deteriorating performance due to the sheer volume of these games. To understand the situation, this investigation explores the game release process across major storefronts (Steam, Xbox, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch) and why some platforms are more affected than others.

The Certification Process: A Closer Look

Interviews with eight game development and publishing professionals (all anonymous due to fear of platform holder repercussions) revealed insights into the game release process. Generally, it involves pitching to platform holders (Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, or Valve), completing game description forms, and undergoing certification ("cert") to ensure compliance with technical requirements and legal standards. Cert focuses on technical aspects, such as handling corrupted saves and controller disconnections, rather than overall game quality. While Steam and Xbox publicly share their requirements, Nintendo and Sony do not.

A common misconception is that cert acts as a quality assurance (QA) check. However, QA is the developer's responsibility; cert verifies code compliance with hardware specifications and legal adherence, particularly concerning age ratings. Developers often receive limited feedback on submission failures, with Nintendo frequently cited for rejecting games without clear explanations.

Store Page Review: A Variable Process

Platform holders require accurate game representation in screenshots, but enforcement varies. While Nintendo and Xbox review store page changes before launch, PlayStation performs a single check near launch, and Valve only reviews the initial submission. Although some diligence exists to verify accuracy, standards are loosely defined, allowing misleading representations to slip through. Consequences for inaccurate screenshots often involve removal requests rather than harsher penalties. None of the console storefronts have specific rules regarding generative AI use in games or store assets, although Steam requests disclosure.

Why Some Stores Fare Worse

The disparity in "slop" across storefronts stems from differences in the approval process. Microsoft vets games individually, while Nintendo, Sony, and Valve vet developers. This allows approved developers to easily release multiple games, contributing to the "slop" problem on Nintendo and PlayStation. Xbox's game-by-game vetting makes it less susceptible. Nintendo's developer-based approval and lack of robust store organization are particularly vulnerable to this issue. A tactic employed by some developers is to continuously cycle short-term discounts to maintain visibility on "New Releases" and "Discounts" pages.

Discoverability and User Experience

The issue is further compounded by discoverability problems. Xbox's curated store pages minimize user exposure to low-quality games, while PlayStation's "Games to Wishlist" sorting by release date highlights upcoming titles, including many low-quality entries. Steam's vast library and frequent updates dilute the impact of new "slop" releases. Nintendo's unsorted "New Releases" section exacerbates the problem.

The Path Forward: Challenges and Concerns

Users have urged Nintendo and Sony to improve storefront regulation, but responses have been limited. Developers express pessimism regarding Nintendo's willingness to address the issue, even with the upcoming Switch 2. While Sony has taken action in the past, the effectiveness of aggressive platform regulation remains uncertain. Overly aggressive filtering, as demonstrated by a "Better eShop" project, can inadvertently harm legitimate games. Concerns exist that stricter regulations might unfairly target high-quality games, highlighting the difficulty in balancing platform oversight with developer autonomy. Ultimately, the human element in reviewing submissions and the challenge of distinguishing between various levels of game quality complicate the problem.