Sony’s recent announcement that it will be ending production of physical game discs in January 2028 is shocking enough, but it’s also raised concerns regarding the format holder’s recent foray into dynamic pricing.
As previously reported, the hardware manufacturer had started rolling out dynamic pricing to the PlayStation Store in various regions, including Brazil and North America. This pricing model changes the cost of PS5 games based on various factors, such as the user’s gaming habits, location, and PSN account details. It’s not only first-party game that are being affected by dynamic pricing, but also third-party content too, with Astro Bot and Stellar Blade two examples.
Given that Sony is moving forward with digital-only games in about 18 months from now, combined with fact digital purchases aren’t always cheaper than their physical counterparts, the use of dynamic pricing is definitely concerning. Plus, Sony is required to collect tax on digital goods by local governments, which means that you may be paying the same or more than physical titles. Class-action lawsuits have already kicked off in California and the Netherlands as a result.
Sony’s decisions to kill off physical media for PlayStation has been met with overwhelmingly negative feedback from players, and a number of companies – including iam8bit – have also voiced their disappointment over the decision. Ampere now believes that the PS6 is unlikely to launch before 2028 as a result of Sony’s plans.
How do you feel about dynamic pricing and the fact we’re going all-digital in January 2028? Sound off in the comments below.
[Source – GameSpot]