Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that it will be closing the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita, with a global shutdown set for July. The news was shared by Sid Shuman, Senior Director of Content Communications at Sony Interactive Entertainment, who explained that the change marks the end of an era for the two platforms after nearly twenty years of store support.

The closure will not happen all at once. Some regions will lose access earlier than others. Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua will see the PS3 store close starting August 2026, while other countries in Latin America and the Middle East will follow with closures later in 2026. Everywhere else, the store will remain open until it shuts down worldwide in July 2027.

Once the store closes in a given region, players will no longer be able to buy new games, add-ons, or other digital content on PS3 or PS Vita. However, Sony said users will still be able to redownload content they already purchased for some time after the shutdown, so existing libraries will not disappear immediately.

According to Sony, the decision comes as the company shifts more of its focus and resources toward newer platforms that most players are currently using. The company also pointed to updated payment processing and commerce systems that PS3 and PS Vita are no longer able to support properly, which played a role in the timing of the shutdown.

This is not the first time Sony has tried to close these storefronts. A similar shutdown was planned back in 2021 but was reversed after backlash from the community. This time, Sony has given players a longer runway, with over a year’s notice before the global closure takes effect. For players who still use their PS3 or PS Vita, the coming months offer a chance to purchase any remaining digital titles they want to keep before the store disappears for good.