Sony's disc-free 2028 plan could kill cheap used game deals
Used PlayStation discs are often half the price of digital downloads.
Ars Technica analyzed 19 top-selling PlayStation games and found that used discs are almost always cheaper than standard digital prices—sometimes by $50 or more. While frequent PlayStation Store sales often undercut used discs, for 7 of the 19 games, a used disc remained the cheapest option even with the deepest digital discounts. Sony's planned end to physical PlayStation disc production by 2028 would eliminate the market for cheap used discs, leaving gamers to rely on standard digital prices or periodic sales that don't always match the low cost of pre-owned games.
- Standard digital prices are often $50+ more than used discs for older games (e.g., $59.99 digital vs $9.99 used).
- During sales, digital prices undercut used discs in 10 of 19 games, but used discs still win in 7 cases.
- Sony's disc production halt by 2028 would eliminate the used game market, removing the cheapest purchasing option for many titles.
Why It Matters
The end of PlayStation discs means higher average game prices and loss of ownership flexibility for millions of gamers.