Sony’s decision to phase out physical PlayStation game discs could have an unexpected upside for players, with former Square Enix Director of Business Development Jacob Navok arguing that an increasingly digital market may eventually push PS Store prices lower.
Sony has confirmed that physical disc production for new PlayStation games will end in January 2028. Games released before that date will remain playable from disc, but newly released titles will be sold digitally through the PlayStation Store and digital formats at retailers.
In brief
- Jacob Navok believes an all-digital PlayStation market could result in more frequent discounts.
- He argues that competition between publishers matters more for game prices than competition between storefronts.
- Steam is cited as an example of games becoming cheaper as publishers compete for players.
- Sony will stop producing physical discs for newly released PlayStation games starting in January 2028.
Navok, who served as Square Enix’s Director of Business Development from 2010 to 2015, pushed back against concerns that removing physical games will automatically lead to higher digital prices.
“Competition between publishers is what drives pricing pressure, not competition between digital stores.”
According to Navok, publishers competing for the same customers have a strong incentive to discount older releases, launch sales, and adjust prices when newer games enter the market.
Steam shows how digital competition can drive discounts
Navok pointed toward Steam as an example of how game prices can naturally decline over time. Games that initially launch at full price frequently face growing competition from newer releases, encouraging publishers to offer deeper or more frequent discounts.
He believes the same effect could become stronger on PlayStation once physical releases are removed from the equation.
“You will see more sales and dynamic pricing similar to Steam because publishers will compete among themselves to a greater extent.”
Navok argues that digital distribution could intensify competition between publishers while also removing costs associated with manufacturing and shipping physical copies.
Cheaper PS Store sales are far from guaranteed, however. Removing physical games would also eliminate the ability to shop between retailers for disc discounts and significantly reduce options for buying, selling, or trading used games.
Navok’s argument suggests an all-digital PlayStation future does not necessarily mean games will become more expensive, but whether publishers actually pass those advantages on to players will ultimately determine how beneficial the transition becomes.
