- PlayStation disc games can be up to €50 cheaper than digital versions, research finds.
- Boxed editions are regularly sold at lower prices and go on sale more often.
- The PlayStation Store is notorious for having low sales, and even years-old digital games are sold at full price.
Sony recently announced that it is ending disc production of first-party titles starting in 2028. The company reportedly made this move to increase profits in game sales and maximize revenue by saving costs.
New research finds that physical Sony games can be up to €40 to €50 cheaper than their digital counterparts on the PlayStation Store.
Many games launched on the storefront years ago are still sold at full price, while their disc versions can be found significantly cheaper on retail sites and stores.
Why it matters: The end of physical media could spell disaster for gamers, as going digital-only gives Sony a monopoly over game prices. Gamers will lose the ability to find alternative deals if PlayStation Store becomes the only source of game purchases.
This study comes via Dutch outlet Tweakers, which compared the physical and digital pricing of many first and third-party PlayStation games using its price-tracking tool Price Watch.
It found that boxed editions are significantly cheaper and go on sale more often compared to digital editions on the PS Store.
For example, a boxed edition of Saros goes for €55 to €70, while a digital copy demands a full €79.99 from your wallet. The difference is even higher with FF7 Rebirth, going for €60 on the PlayStation Store, compared to €24.90 for the disc version.
PlayStation Store rarely holds sales or price reductions, so older digital titles like Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 and Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart continue to be sold at full price.
Therefore, boxed editions of games have clear benefits beyond the game preservation argument, as you tangibly own a product instead of buying a digital license for it.
Sony intends to end the second-hand market, but gamers are fighting back. A survey found that nearly 50% of gamers plan to ditch PlayStation for PC as physical disc production ends.
Do you think Sony will reverse the decision to abandon disc editions of games after fan backlash? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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