PlayStation is taking back free games it accidentally gave away

PlayStation has taken back a game it previously offered for free in October, limiting access to players who managed to add it to their libraries without paying for it. The revocation of access appears to be a corrective move by PlayStation to cover up a pricing error that only existed on the PlayStation Store for a short period of time.

The game that is currently causing a stir is Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogunwhich was developed by Mimimi Productions and first made its way to the PlayStation 4 in 2017. Set after the unification of war-torn Japan, the game puts players in control of a small team of stealthy characters as they use their skills to sneak around, sabotage and assassinate targets, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the current shogun. While its initial arrival didn't include a ton of fanfare, it has impressed professional critics and gamers alike, as its 94 percent approval rating on Steam can attest.

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PlayStation is bringing back a free game offering in October

But some players who had received Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun free a few months ago realize that it is no longer available in their library, which appears to be a deliberate move by PlayStation to correct a mistake on the PlayStation Store. Back on October 17th, the game had reportedly gone free on PlayStation, which appeared to have been done by mistake, as the time period to claim the free game wasn't officially announced, and players only had a couple of hours to pick it up before the price went up again. While no moves were made at the time to take back the game from any players who had obtained it within the short time frame, new reports indicate that Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is no longer playable for players who accidentally got it for free.

There doesn't seem to be any official public announcement from PlayStation regarding the game being withdrawn from players who got it for free in October, and there's no real clear indication of how many players are affected by the apparent mistake. Some players of the feudal Japan-based strategy game may already be aware that they have lost access to Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogunas there are reports that they have received unsolicited refund requests from PlayStation bearing the game's name and showing a refund amount of $0.00.

Fortunately for those who have lost access, PlayStation's return of the free game comes at an opportune time, as the PlayStation Holiday Sale currently offers deals on more than 6,000 different products, including games and add-ons. With Shadow Tactics: Blades of the Shogun is normally priced at $39.99, PlayStation's annual sale is currently offering the game at 90 percent off, bringing the price down to just $3.99. This discounted offer will be valid through January 22, 2026, at 3 a.m. EST, so anyone who had picked up the game for free in October still has plenty of time to scrape together a few bucks if they want it in their personal libraries.

This isn't the first time in history that a game has been taken back by a seller after it was previously given away for free, but the two-month gap between the mistake and the fix makes it stand out a little more. Previous related incidents in recent history include one from about a year ago, where Humble Bundle recalled free keys it apparently shouldn't have released for Indiana Jones and the Great Circlee, as well as an incident from September there Silent Hill b purchasers on Steam were mistakenly upgraded to the Deluxe Edition for free.