Since Sony announced its plans to end physical disc production for PlayStation by 2028, many gamers have fretted over future access and ownership. But this move could also mean saying goodbye to those tempting used-disc bargains.
Ars Technica’s analysis of 19 top-selling games revealed that while used discs remain the cheapest option in most cases, frequent digital discounts often outstrip these savings. Even older titles like Call of Duty: Modern Warfare and Assassin's Creed Valhalla were still selling at launch prices on the PlayStation Store, despite cheaper second-hand options.
Our findings suggest that without physical disc production, prices are likely to stay high or even rise. This could make digital gaming more expensive in the long run for those who are not already in the habit of buying games directly from the store.
The future looks bleak for bargain hunters, but perhaps a silver lining is that developers and publishers will have less incentive to keep prices artificially inflated when physical copies are no longer an option. Time will tell if this means better deals or just higher digital prices overall.
