Without warning or fanfare, Entwined, the once-prominent PlayStation console exclusive, has quietly disappeared from the PlayStation Store. The digital delisting, which affects all platforms where the game was previously available, now prevents new players from purchasing it altogether. Those who already own Entwined can still redownload and play it, but the move has reignited long-standing concerns around digital game preservation.
Key Takeaways:
- Entwined, a PlayStation-published exclusive, is no longer available for purchase.
- Sony has issued no statement or advance warning about its removal.
- Existing owners retain access and can still redownload the game.
- Developer PixelOpus, a Sony-owned studio, was shut down in 2023.
- The situation raises broader concerns about the longevity of digital-only games.
Launched in June 2014, Entwined made its debut during Sony’s E3 presentation as a stylistic indie game that stood out for its art direction and ambient soundtrack. Players took control of two entities—a bird and a fish—simultaneously, navigating abstract environments in a rhythm-like gameplay experience. Though critical reviews were mixed, many praised its visual and musical artistry.
But what’s puzzling here isn’t just the removal—it’s the silence. Sony Interactive Entertainment, the game’s own publisher, has yet to comment. That’s a bit unusual. In cases involving third-party titles, games are sometimes pulled due to expiring music licenses or the loss of publishing rights. But Entwined is a first-party game—Sony owned it outright. So the sudden vanishing act feels different.
The PixelOpus Story
The game was developed by PixelOpus, a small internal studio under the PlayStation Studios umbrella. Following Entwined, the team released Concrete Genie, a more fully realized action-adventure title that received a warmer reception. Yet despite this progress, Sony closed PixelOpus in 2023 while the studio was reportedly working on a PlayStation 5 project.
There’s speculation that the delisting of Entwined could be tied to the studio’s closure. It’s plausible—but nothing has been confirmed. Interestingly, Concrete Genie remains available on the PlayStation Store at the time of writing, which adds another layer of ambiguity to the situation.
Of course, this isn’t the first time a game has disappeared from a digital storefront. Games get removed all the time for a range of reasons—some commercial, some technical. And while previously purchased titles often remain in users’ libraries, the growing number of games becoming unavailable to new audiences keeps fueling the debate around digital ownership.
The industry’s steady shift toward digital-first distribution has only deepened these concerns. Physical media is becoming rarer. And when a title like Entwined, published and owned by the platform itself, suddenly vanishes without explanation, it becomes harder not to worry about the long-term access to digital games.
For now, players are left waiting to see whether Sony will address the matter at all. Whether Entwined might one day return, or whether it simply fades into the digital ether for good, remains to be seen. But its disappearance adds yet another name to a growing list of digital titles at risk of being lost—unless better preservation strategies are put in place.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Can I still play Entwined if I already owned it?
A1: Yes, absolutely. If you purchased the game before it was delisted, it will remain in your PlayStation library. You can redownload and play it at any time.
Q2: Why are games removed from digital storefronts?
A2: There are several reasons—licenses expiring (especially for music or character rights), publisher or studio shutdowns, or even backend service dependencies that are no longer supported.
Q3: Is it common for PlayStation-published games to be delisted?
A3: Not really. Delistings do happen, but it’s more typical with third-party games. First-party titles are usually more stable in that regard, since the platform holder owns the rights outright.
Q4: Will Entwined ever return to the PlayStation Store?
A4: It’s hard to say. Some games do return after licensing or legal hurdles are cleared, but many don’t. As of now, there’s no indication one way or the other.
Q5: What was PixelOpus?
A5: PixelOpus was a California-based development studio under Sony Interactive Entertainment. They created Entwined and later Concrete Genie before being closed by Sony in 2023.
