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- PlayStation’s history with digital distribution began during the PS3 generation.
- Over the years, the gaming giant introduced the PlayStation gift card, upgraded PS Plus, and made other changes to its digital services.
- The PS5 continues this legacy, offering the most expansive digital storefront Sony has ever had.
PlayStation has been part of the industry for a whopping 30+ years, and the gaming giant has been through a lot of changes since its inception. From the early days of the PS1 to the PS2’s domination, very few companies have been able to match PlayStation’s influence in the industry.
Perhaps the PS3 played the biggest role in shaping the modern era of PlayStation, introducing online gameplay and a digital storefront with the PlayStation Network.
Why it matters: PlayStation is home to over 100 million gamers across the globe, many of whom rely solely on digital purchases. Therefore, Sony has worked on bringing the PlayStation Store up to par with expectations over the years.
The Dawn of Digital Distribution
The PlayStation Store made its debut during the PS3 generation in the early 2000s. It was quite barebones at first, but Sony evolved the storefront into something much bigger over time.
At its core, the PlayStation Store aimed to offer digital content like games, movies, and more to millions of gamers. Sony also introduced PlayStation gift cards in 2006, allowing players to bypass the need for a credit card when attempting to make digital purchases.
Expanding Digital Libraries
This foundation was slowly built upon and soon grew into something much bigger. Once the PS4 was released, digital libraries became commonplace in the industry, and the advent of free-to-play titles meant that microtransaction purchases were booming worldwide.
Indie games also benefitted from the PlayStation Store’s growth since smaller teams were able to skip physical distribution. Games like Journey, Limbo, and The Binding of Isaac pushed the boundaries of what the medium could do within small budgets, and much of their success came directly from PlayStation Store transactions.
A New Era of Digital Gaming
Today, the PS4 and PS5 work together to serve millions of PlayStation customers. Between PlayStation Plus, games, DLC, and microtransactions, digital purchases are bigger than ever on Sony’s latest consoles, and the PlayStation gift card makes them incredibly accessible for millions of gamers.
For nearly twenty years, the PlayStation gift card has unlocked new possibilities for gamers.
The current popularity of digital gaming means that these gift cards are even more popular today, and they can even be found at a cheap price if you’re willing to look for solid deals on marketplaces online.
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[News Reporter]
Avinash is currently pursuing a Business degree in Australia. For more than three years, he has been working as a gaming journalist, utilizing his writing skills and love for gaming to report on the latest updates in the industry. Avinash loves to play action games like Devil May Cry and has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as IGN, GamesRadar, GameRant, Dualshockers, CBR, and Gamespot.
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