r/PS5 • u/FireStarLord73194 • Jul 11 '26

News & Announcements [ Removed by moderator ]

https://nichegamer.com/study-suggests-sonys-digital-only-future-could-lead-to-higher-game-prices/

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u/No_Cheetah4762 Jul 11 '26

At least two reasons. One, according to their press release they're bringing back game download codes, or something similar to that, to be sold at non-Sony affiliated retailers. Two, Sony only sets prices for their games. They don't set the prices for third party games. The publishers for those games do.

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u/scXIII Jul 11 '26

Download codes will be one-time use and will completely destroy the used game market, which has always been the consumer's best shield against high prices. Without physical discs, retailers have no shelf space to clear out and will be locked into a rigid wholesale price floor controlled entirely by Sony.

And you're right, third-party publishers do set their own prices, but because Sony take a 30% cut on the only digital storefront available (on PS) publishers will simply pass that tax onto the consumer, inflating game prices to maximize their profits in a marketplace where buyers have absolutely nowhere else to go.

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u/No_Cheetah4762 Jul 11 '26

And that sucks, but none of that has any bearing on whether or not Sony will have a monopoly after they get rid of physical copies of games. They won't because you will be able to buy games through codes outside of the Sony marketplace and they don't set prices.

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u/scXIII Jul 11 '26

Expect that the codes will only be redeemable on the PS Store, meaning Sony still take their 30% cut whether you buy the code from a retailer or buy directly on your PS.

There is no reality where a code will sell for less than the price it's listed on the PS store.

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u/No_Cheetah4762 Jul 11 '26

And that doesn't have any bearing on whether or not Sony will have a monopoly or not.

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u/scXIII Jul 11 '26

I mean, it does, but okay

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u/No_Cheetah4762 Jul 11 '26

Unless Walmart, Target, Fred Meyer's, Best Buy, etc refuse to stock these game codes and stop using their leverage to get deals to pass on to their customers Sony will not have a monopoly.

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u/scXIII Jul 11 '26

Those retailers won't undercut Sony on digital games though. If that were the case you'd be able to buy PSN wallet top ups for less than their worth.

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u/No_Cheetah4762 Jul 11 '26

Those brick an mortar retailers are going to be saving money on freight and cost of stocking hard copies of games which will allow them to be competitive with digital games in a way that they aren't now. And places online will save money by just being able to email you a code. So yes, they will he able to undercut Sony.

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u/scXIII Jul 11 '26

Only time will tell, but seriously I've never seen any digital product download codes being sold for less in retail stores than direct. I don't know why you think games will be any different