All LittleBigPlanet game servers shutting down in Japan
UPDATE: LBP Vita safe, as well as 1-3.
UPDATE 5/7/15 10.55am There's good news today for fans of LittleBigPlanet on PlayStation Vita - Sony has at last confirmed to Eurogamer that the portable game's servers will not close outside of Japan.
Alongside the main three LittleBigPlanet console games, Vita will escape the server shutdown which will affect all titles in the series in Japan.
So, to clarify, the only LBP games which will shut down are LittleBigPlanet Racing and LBP Portable.
UPDATE 1/7/15 11.55am Eurogamer has received confirmation that LittleBigPlanet 1, 2 and 3 servers will remain online outside of Japan, although Racing and Portable will close.
ORIGINAL STORY 1/7/15 10.55am LittleBigPlanet's online services are coming to an end in Japan.
Sony's trilogy of main LittleBigPlanet games, plus spin-offs LittleBigPlanet Portable, Vita and Karting will see their servers shut down at the end of this month (thanks, NeoGAF).
As of 31st July, Japanese players will no longer be able to view and play other users' stages, upload their own, access online play or use other community functions.
It is, effectively, the end of LittleBigPlanet in Japan. But is it also the end of LittleBigPlanet in the west?
We're still trying to find out what's happening in Europe and North America, but it doesn't look great for Sackboy.
Already, Sony has confirmed closures for LittleBigPlanet Portable and Karting servers here and across the pond - meaning these games will no longer work online globally.
The first LittleBigPlanet originally launched on PlayStation 3 in 2008 to a warm success and huge sales. But the most recent game in the series, LittleBigPlanet 3, was not developed by series creator Media Molecule and failed to set tills alight. Franchise spin-offs such as LittleBigPlanet Karting also disappointed. Sony has yet to announce a new LittleBigPlanet for PlayStation 4, suggesting there is no new game in production.
We've asked Sony for comment.