PlayStation exclusive Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky is being delisted from the PS Store on January 5. Although the end-of-sale notice was issued only in Japan, the move raises questions about the game’s long-term availability in the West, particularly since its Western publisher may not have secured indefinite rights to the English localization of the PlayStation RPG.
Co-developed by Spike Chunsoft and tri-Ace, Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky is a PS Vita and PS4 JRPG that was originally released in Japan in December 2015 before reaching the West in October of the following year. A week following its tenth anniversary, Spike Chunsoft announced that it was pulling the game from sale. Its PS4 version was already delisted from Sony’s digital marketplace on January 1, while the PS Vita rendition is set to follow suit on the first Monday of the year, January 5.
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The Future of Exist Archive’s English Version Seems Up in the Air
For now, Exist Archive still exists on the PlayStation Store outside of Japan, with Spike Chunsoft yet to give any indication that the English version would follow suit. The title was localized and published in the West by longtime Spike Chunsoft collaborator and JRPG publisher Aksys Games, while the Japanese version was distributed by the developer itself. While this suggests Spike Chunsoft may not have complete control over the fate of the English version, there are no guarantees that the American publisher secured indefinite distribution rights. As such, there is a possibility that this delisting signals a more global end of sales being on the way.
Spike Chunsoft did not clarify what prompted the decision to delist Exist Archive. Since the game does not offer any kind of online functionality, its PS Store removal will not stop existing owners from playing it, as they will still be able to download it afterward. However, they will no longer be able to purchase any of its many DLC cosmetics. There are currently 36 of them listed on the PS Store, most retailing for either $1.99 (35) or $2.99 (17), plus a $3.99 costume based on Danganronpa‘s robotic stuffedd bear Monokuma. That comes out to over $120, more than double the regular retail price of Exist Archive: The Other Side of the Sky on the PS Store.
Exist Archive’s Second-Hand Market Currently Looks Decent Enough
The side-scrolling JRPG received a physical release in Japan, which Spike Chunsoft confirmed will stop being produced by January 5. While the English localization also had a physical release, handled by Aksys Games, there have been no signs that additional copies were printed in recent years. Looking at the secondhand market, there are currently several copies of the Exist Archive PS4 version listed on Amazon. The fact that all are priced in the ballpark of $35 suggests the delisting announcement in Japan did not have a material impact on secondhand prices in the US. The PS Vita physical version can also currently be found on eBay, with several copies described as brand-new being offered for $32.97. eBay states the same seller already sold two copies in the last 24 hours as of January 3, listing another three as currently available.
Exist Archive May Appeal to Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Fans
While a turn-based JRPG at heart, Exist Archive could appeal to fans of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, one of the most critically acclaimed 2025 games. Like Sandfall’s hit RPG, Exist Archive incorporates real-time combat elements, but does so in its own unique way: instead of tasking players with blocking, parrying, and dodging attacks, it allows them to stack combos during the attack phase by rhythmically pressing the face buttons on the controller. Each button corresponds to a party member and each character can start an attack while the previous one is halfway done. The result is a distinctive hybrid of real-time and turn-based combat that differs mechanically from Expedition 33 but may resonate with the same audience.
Source: Comicbook
