If you're in Japan and enjoy playing the LittleBigPlanet series' user-created levels, then I'm afraid I have some bad news: Sony Interactive Entertainment Japan Asia announced that it's shutting down the franchise's online services in Japan, starting July 31 (via Siliconera).

The affected games are LittleBigPlanet on PS3 and PSP, LittleBigPlanet 2 on PS3, LittleBigPlanet 3 on PS4 and PS3, LittleBigPlanet Karting on PS3, and LittleBigPlanet on Vita. Additionally, NeoGAF user Tapejara spotted that LittleBigPlanet on PSP will have its services shuttered in the United Kingdom, while LittleBigPlanet Karting is set to have its servers shut down in North America on August 31.

When the online services are taken down, players will no longer have access to features such as playing user-created levels, uploading levels of their own, online multiplayer, and any other community functions. However, purchased DLC will still be available. It's not clear if all DLC will be removed from the store. We've contacted Sony to request more information.

The latest entry in the series, LittleBigPlanet 3, received a score of 7 in GameSpot's review. Critic Alexa Ray Correia said, "Little Big Planet 3 is the most difficult game in the series by virtue of its challenges. More complicated problems mean more tools to solve them, giving you a wide berth to choose your own path through Bunkum. The push for creativity is limited in the way you play the campaign, but it’s an overwhelming presence within creation mode, offering boundless ways to leave your own mark on Craftworld."