Between the instant game collection of PlayStation Plus and Sony’s recent push for Day One digital downloads on PlayStation Vita, it would seem that Sony’s preparing for gaming’s digital future. According to a PlayStation exec, this is only the beginning.
In an interview with The Interactive, SCEA Senior VP Scott Rohde discusses Sony’s preparation for a gaming industry that is served exclusively through digital downloads. This future would also represent the death of retail sales, but Rohde is more than confident this is the direction we’re heading. "I think this is a natural progression," Rohde said when asked about recent day-one digital releases on the PlayStation Store. "You’ll start to see more and more digital offerings across the board. And this is not just a Sony thing, you’re obviously going to see it across the board. It’s the way the world is progressing, not just Sony."
The instant game collection, a recent initiative that gives a constant supply of free triple-A games to PS Plus subscribers, was cited by Rohde as emblematic of a future where digital distribution means everything. When asked if Sony is actively moving towards this future, he replied with conviction: "It’s something we want to do, and it’s inevitable."
As PlayStation fans and followers, it’s good to know that Sony is a vanguard for experimentation in what consumers want and how best to deliver it to them. We can’t deny the sheer awesome that is PS Plus, and if the instant game collection is any indication of what’s to come, the PlayStation Nation is in for a treat.
The full interview with Scott Rohde will go live over at The Interactive on Monday.