New Report Finds Games Cheaper in Stores as Sony Ditches PlayStation Discs
▼ Summary
– Sony announced it will end manufacturing of physical PlayStation discs by January 2028, making future games available only in digital formats.
– A report from Tweakers found that game prices typically drop over time at retail, but PS Store prices often remain at launch price years after release.
– First-party PlayStation exclusives are “almost never cheaper” than their physical counterparts, with Sony rarely lowering their base prices.
– Physical games are statistically more likely to cost less at various points throughout the year compared to PS Store prices.
– Ending disc manufacturing eliminates second-hand game sales, and Sony stands to earn up to 54% more revenue per game sold.
Earlier this month, Sony dropped a bombshell: the company will stop manufacturing physical PlayStation discs starting in January 2028. This seismic shift means future titles from Sony Interactive Entertainment and every other publisher will be available exclusively in digital formats. For savvy shoppers who hunt for bargains, this news is especially troubling. A close look at pricing trends suggests that Sony’s move could drive game prices higher over time.
Dutch outlet Tweakers has compiled a detailed report examining historical prices for 16 first-party and third-party PS5 games, comparing average retail costs with those on the PlayStation Store. The analysis also evaluates how PS Store promotions stack up against physical retail deals. Using data from Tweakers’ own Pricewatch service and PSprices, the report tracks prices from July 8, 2022, to the present, excluding pre-order discounts and noting that some games launched before the tracking period.
The key finding: game prices typically drop over time at retail, but the same doesn’t hold true on the PS Store. There, titles can linger at full launch prices years after release, unless they’re included in a sale. When the PS Store runs a promotion, prices fall temporarily but bounce back afterward. Retail prices, by contrast, fluctuate more frequently and lack the rigid structure of Sony’s digital storefront. Third-party games sometimes get permanent price cuts on the PS Store, but that’s rare.
The situation is even worse for first-party PlayStation exclusives. According to the report, these games are “almost never cheaper than their physical counterparts.” While they go on sale, Sony rarely lowers their base prices. For instance, older titles like Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart remain at their launch price years later. Of all first-party games surveyed, only Horizon Forbidden West received a permanent price drop, from €80 to €60.
The PS Store can offer cheaper prices during sales, but the report notes you’re more likely to find a game cheaper at retail throughout the year. “If you buy a PS5 game now, statistically speaking, the physical version is most likely to cost less,” it states. Furthermore, when retail prices drop, they tend to keep falling.
Retailers will still be able to sell “physical” games, but these will be code-in-box products or vouchers. While Sony’s decision effectively ends second-hand game sales, since there’s nothing to resell or share, retailers could still compete on digital voucher pricing.
The backlash has been fierce. Hundreds of thousands have signed a petition urging Sony to reverse course. Meanwhile, Sony’s social media accounts,and notably its 2013 PS4 anti-DRM video,have been flooded with millions of comments mocking the company or mourning the death of physical media. Experts we consulted say retailers and price-sensitive customers will lose the most. Beyond giving Sony total market control, the financial incentive is clear: Sony keeps a larger share of every sale. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier estimates the company could earn up to 54 percent more revenue per $70 first-party game and 40 percent more for third-party titles. That’s before considering anti-consumer practices like dynamic pricing, which could further obscure the true cost of games.
(Source: Eurogamer.net)
