RIP bargain bin: The price impact of Sony's disc-free PlayStation plan
Sony's plan to phase out physical PlayStation discs by 2028 has raised concerns about the loss of the used game market. An analysis suggests that while used discs are often cheaper, digital store discounts frequently offer competitive pricing.
Why it matters
The shift toward a digital-only ecosystem changes consumer ownership rights and the long-term affordability of gaming.
The price is right RIP bargain bin: The price impact of Sony’s disc-free PlayStation plan Used discs are often cheaper than even deep digital discounts.
52 The price for this particular used disc had better be pretty dang low... Credit: Getty Images The price for this particular used disc had better be pretty dang low... Credit: Getty Images Text settings Story text Size Small Standard Large Width * Standard Wide Links Standard Orange * Subscribers only Learn more Minimize to nav Since Sony announced that it was planning to stop producing physical PlayStation discs in 2028 , many people have been justifiably worried about how they will maintain ownership and long-term game access in a disc-free world. But halting production of PlayStation discs also means eliminating the market for cheap used PlayStation discs, which are often available for well below the price of a digital download.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in