The PlayStation 5 version of STONKS-9800 will no longer be released after Sony terminated indie developer Ternox Games’ PlayStation developer and publisher agreement, according to the developer. The decision also means Ternox’s existing games on the PlayStation Store are scheduled to be removed after August 23.
STONKS-9800 is a stock-market simulation game with an 1980s anime-inspired style. It originally launched in Steam Early Access in 2023 and has received an “overwhelmingly positive” response from players, with 97% of its Steam reviews marked positive, according to Video Games Chronicle. The game had been planned for release on PlayStation 5 in 2027.
Ternox Games announced that Sony had terminated its agreement and that STONKS-9800 would not be coming to PlayStation 5. The developer said Sony did not provide a reason for the termination and claimed that PlayStation Support had not responded to its attempts to challenge the decision. Sony has not publicly provided an explanation for the specific case.
The dispute comes as Sony has been taking action against what it considers low-effort or “shovelware” games on the PlayStation Store. Several reports have suggested that Ternox may have been affected by this broader enforcement, but there is no confirmed statement from Sony saying that the developer was removed specifically for that reason.
Ternox said it has released 10 of its own games over five years, while three additional titles from previous publishing relationships were transferred to its account. Reports indicate that 13 games associated with the developer are scheduled to be removed from the PlayStation Store after August 23.
For STONKS-9800, the cancellation affects only the planned PlayStation release. The developer has indicated that its plans for other platforms, including Xbox and Nintendo, will continue.
The situation highlights the growing importance of platform-store policies for independent developers. Unless Sony reverses its decision or provides a new publishing agreement, STONKS-9800 will remain unavailable on PlayStation 5, while Ternox’s existing PlayStation catalogue faces delisting later this month.
