In October 2020, Sony updated the online PlayStation Store to prepare for the launch of the PlayStation 5, and in so doing removed a lot of features that fans liked while making it harder to download titles for consoles older than the PlayStation 4. However, it seems the update did not remove the old version of the store, and thanks to a plug-in anyone using Firefox browsers can access the previous PlayStation Store.
Sony was recently under fire after it announced it would be closing down the PlayStation Store for PlayStation 3, PSP, and PlayStation Vita consoles, which meant gamers would lose access to classic titles. After the announcement, many criticized Sony for its lack of respect for preserving gaming history and the lack of notice it had given developers who were still making games for the consoles. This lead to the company backtracking and stating that only the PSP store would be closed.
With this concern about gaming history, many will be happy to learn that they can still access the old PlayStation Store, known as Valkyrie, using a simple plug-in. The plug-in, "Valkyrie PS Store," is currently only available for Firefox browsers, but the same result can be achieved manually on other browsers. The store update in October was met with disapproval by PlayStation fans, so the news that the old store remains active but hidden should come as good news.
It is worth mentioning that as this information spreads, Sony might take actions to remove access to the old storefront for good, so those that wish to use the old version should do so as soon as possible. The main benefit of the old store is that it still has the wishlist feature and organizes game purchases separately across all of Sony's consoles. While it may seem like a small complaint, the change in store design has bothered some PlayStation fans, and hopefully, the plug-in fixes that particular issue.
These decisions by companies to close and change stores do affect the preservation of gaming history and highlight the downside of digital media. When console stores close, some games can be lost forever unless they receive a port to a different console. For some games, ports are not an option as publishing deals may have expired or developers no longer exist. Luckily, fans can do their best to preserve history even if big companies like Sony do not, and this simple Firefox plug-in is a fine example of that.
Source: Valkyrie PS Store