{
  "id": 1312988,
  "title": "I’m not buying the idea that killing PlayStation discs will make games cheaper",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/im-not-buying-the-idea-that-killing-playstation-discs-will-make-games",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-16T16:55:24.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Digital Trends",
    "slug": "digital-trends",
    "url": "https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/sony-playstation-discs-digital-games-cheaper-prices/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent discussion has emerged regarding Sony's decision to discontinue physical PlayStation game discs, suggesting that digital games might become more affordable. Former Square Enix business development director Jacob Navok proposes that by eliminating manufacturing and distribution expenses, combined with increased competition among publishers, digital prices could drop and create a Steam-like atmosphere on the PlayStation Store. However, the author does not share this perspective, particularly in the context of PlayStation. The primary issue with Navok's argument lies in the fact that PlayStation is not as open as Steam. On Steam, consumers can purchase games from various sources such as Steam, the Epic Games Store, GOG, the Microsoft Store, and other legitimate retailers, allowing for price competition between different platforms. Conversely, PlayStation lacks an equivalent digital marketplace like the Epic Games Store or GOG, where a third-party could offer lower prices for PS5 games. This lack of storefront competition is a crucial difference. Furthermore, while publisher competition exists, storefront competition is a separate matter, and PlayStation currently lacks the latter. Another problem with the argument is that digital games are already available alongside physical games. Digital copies do not require the manufacturing, packaging, shipping, or shelf placement of physical discs, yet new digital PS5 games still launch at the same price as their physical counterparts. Why would eliminating physical versions suddenly force prices down? Companies typically reduce costs to improve margins, not out of altruism. They eliminate costs because better margins are good for business. In this case, the death of discs becomes particularly concerning because it eliminates the secondary market for physical games. Players can sell, buy used, lend, trade in, or hunt for discounted physical copies, creating a layer of price competition around the official launch price. Digital games, however, cannot replicate this. Retailers also have an incentive to discount physical games, as they have limited shelf space and inventory that needs to move. If a game like Spider-Man 2 has been on a shelf for six months, a retailer might lower the price to clear stock. In contrast, the PlayStation Store has no such pressure. Sony has faced legal challenges over its control of digital PlayStation game sales. Dutch consumer group Stichting Massaschade & Consument argues that Sony's exclusive control over the PlayStation Store may result in consumers paying artificially inflated prices, with claims that digital games and DLC can cost up to 47% more than physical alternatives. While these claims are yet to be proven in court, they are gaining traction alongside similar antitrust actions, such as Alex Neill's UK class action and regulatory scrutiny in Portugal and the US. Sony's own announcement that physical disc production for new PlayStation games will cease in January 2028 adds to the concern. While Sony states that this change reflects the industry's shift toward digital media and that new games will continue to be available digitally, this does not necessarily indicate that Sony will pass those savings directly to gamers. Moreover, recent pricing experiments by Sony suggest that a digital storefront gives the company more control over how games are priced and promoted. These experiments, involving over 190 games across 70-plus regions, have reportedly included different users receiving different prices or discounts for the same games. This demonstrates the potential for more sophisticated pricing strategies enabled by digital storefronts. However, this also raises concerns about the loss of control for consumers. Physical games provide players with a tangible copy that remains in their possession, even if a game is later delisted from a storefront. Digital purchases are more closely tied to the platform, account, and licensing arrangements surrounding them. This matters for game preservation, as digital games can disappear from digital storefronts due to expired licensing agreements. While physical media may not always guarantee an offline copy in its entirety, it still offers consumers an additional layer of control, and losing that option should not be dismissed as merely a manufacturing change. Microsoft's strategy offers a potential alternative. Xbox has reportedly been working on Positron, a disc-to-digital system.",
  "summary": "A former Square Enix executive says ending PlayStation discs could make digital games cheaper, but Sony's closed storefront and pricing experiments suggest otherwise.",
  "key_points": [
    "PlayStation disc discontinuation won't lower digital game prices, contrary to Navok's belief.",
    "PlayStation Store's lack of competition with other digital marketplaces prevents price drops.",
    "Digital games already available at physical prices, so disc removal won't create new competition."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}