PlayStation Mobile shutting down

PlayStation Mobile will be shutting down in July, with in-app purchases and re-downloads being discontinued come September.

Sony confirmed the announcement on the PlayStation Support Forum Wednesday morning.

The service provides bite sized games for the Vita and Android smartphones. Gamers will still be able to play their games after the cutoff date, but they will have to authenticate and back them up to ensure no data is lost.

“Previously, content was automatically authenticated whenever the device connected to the Internet, but this will not happen after September 10, 2015.

Steps on activating your device:

• For PS Vita users: You will need to complete the device activation process by performing the steps below between March 10, 2015, and September 10, 2015:
  Go to  [Settings] >  [PSN℠] > [System Activation] > [PlayStation Mobile] > [Activate] > [OK].
• For PlayStation®Certified device users: You will need to open up the PSM app and launch any purchased PSM content between April 10, 2015 and September 10, 2015^*3 to complete the content authentication process.
• Please ensure that you have downloaded all of the games that you want to keep. After September 10, 2015, you will not be able to re-download your purchased content.
• Devices that are not authenticated prior to September 10, 2015 will be unable to access previously purchased PSM content after that date.”

This is the latest piece of bad news to hit the Vita. Earlier this year, it had its YouTube and location based apps discontinued. Sony also announced that it would no longer be making first party games for the system.

Image via Sony