It’s the kind of surprise that players love, but it never lasts very long. On December 23, 2025, a bug in the PlayStation Store made Shadow of the Tomb Raider completely free in several regions. First spotted by players in Hong Kong, the malfunction quickly spread to Singapore, Malaysia and Australia.
Without an official announcement from Sony, the trick spread on Reddit, where users shared the step-by-step method to add the full version of the game to their library from the demo. “Shadow of the Tomb Raider is currently free on PlayStation Store in several regions.”
How did the bug work and in which regions?
The process was based on a well-known flaw: by adding the game demo to its library, it became possible to then unlock the full version, without payment. This method only worked on PSN accounts located in certain Asia-Pacific regions, specifically Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Australia.
Once the demo was added, users could return to the game page and add the full version, as if it were a free update. The trick worked for almost 10 hours before Sony fixed the bug. No official alert has been issued, and no license withdrawals have been reported to date.
Can we keep the game after the fix? Will Sony withdraw the licenses?
That’s the big question. In the past, Sony has revoked games obtained in error, notably during poorly configured promotions. But so far, no removal reports have been observed for users affected by this bug.
Journalist Zarmena Khan, who covered the issue, says her own games obtained via previous bugs are still accessible. “The last two games I got for free thanks to PS Store bugs are still in my library and perfectly playable, so you never know.”
This doesn’t guarantee anything, but gives hope that Sony could show tolerance for this error just before Christmas.
What this bug reveals about PlayStation Store vulnerabilities
This type of incident highlights the recurring flaws of the PlayStation Store, in particular in the management of content by region. He also highlights the growing importance of online communities like Reddit, which allow players to quickly share this type of opportunity.
Even if the offer is no longer active, this story once again illustrates the limits of Sony’s digital ecosystem and the impossibility of guaranteeing 100% secure distribution of games on its platforms.