Google has pulled PlayStation emulator app PSX4Droid from its Android Market, citing violation of its Content Policy, reports Pocket Gamer. But the app’s developer, ZodTTD, suspects the removal is likely due to the imminent release of Sony Ericsson’s Xperia Play, commonly known as the ‘PlayStation Phone.’
“Psx4droid v2 was pulled by Google due to ‘Content Policy violation,'” writes ZodTTD in a Twitter post published on Wednesday. “Trying to determine what can be done.”
ZodTTD says he had been working on an update to PSX4Droid “like mad,” which would make the app “so much nicer.” And since the app has been available for almost six months before being “suspiciously” yanked from the Android Market, ZodTTD believes a request by Sony to be the reason.
“Sony’s Xperia Play must be coming soon,” writes ZodTTD on Twitter. “Google just suspended all my legal Sony PSX emulator app ids from Marketplace. They locked me out of their service. Fair enough, but no specific reason. The timing is suspicious with no remedy.”
Google has given no specific reason for removing the PSX4Droid. “We remove apps from Android Market that violate our policies,” a Google spokesperson told us in an email, but refused our request to elaborate further on the app’s expulsion.
The PSX4Droid app was not the only PlayStation emulator available on the Android Market. A similar app, FPse for Android, is currently still available for purchase.
The Xperia Play, which is the first official handset from Sony, was expected to go on sale in March, but has since been pushed back. There is no official launch date, but the game-centric smartphone is said to go on sale in the US in the middle of April.
In addition to its gaming abilities, the Xperia is based on Google’s Android 2.3 Gingerbread, and is powered by a 1GHz Scorpion ARMv7 processor. The phone sports a 4-inch touchscreen and a slide-out controller located where other similar devices have a keyboard.
Updated with statement from Google at 1:30pm EST.
