Report Finds Physical PS5 Games Consistently Cheaper as Sony Moves to End PlayStation Discs by 2028

A comprehensive report by Tweakers confirms that physical PlayStation 5 games are almost always cheaper than their digital PlayStation Store equivalents, a finding that intensifies concerns after Sony’s announcement to cease manufacturing physical PS discs in January 2028.

Sony’s decision to end physical disc production for PlayStation consoles beginning January 2028 will make all new releases—both from Sony Interactive Entertainment and third-party publishers—digital-only, according to the company’s July 2026 statement. The move comes amid mounting price concerns among gamers, with historical pricing data exposing consistently lower retail costs for physical PS5 titles than for digital games bought via the PlayStation Store.

Physical vs. Digital: Price Trends from 2022 to 2026

Dutch tech site Tweakers published a detailed analysis of 16 major PS5 games using price data from its Pricewatch service and PSprices, tracking figures from July 8, 2022, through 2026. The sample includes both first-party exclusives and third-party releases sold in the Netherlands. Notably, all pricing excludes pre-order discounts to ensure accurate post-launch comparisons.

• Physical retail prices for PS5 games typically decrease steadily over time.
• Digital PlayStation Store prices often remain at launch levels years after release, except during limited-time promotions.
• According to the report, “A game’s price will typically drop over time at retail, but the same is not true for the PS Store, where games can still be found at their full launch prices years after release. That’s assuming they’re not included in any ongoing sales.”
• Retail game prices fluctuate more frequently than digital prices, reflecting market forces rather than Sony’s fixed pricing policy.
• Even during PlayStation Store sales, any reductions are temporary, with prices reverting once the sale period ends. “When the PS Store runs a promotion, prices drop, but they shoot back up to where they were afterwards,” Tweakers reports.
• Permanent price drops are rare for digital versions, especially among PlayStation first-party exclusives.

The report spotlights first-party exclusives as particularly problematic for bargain hunters, stating physical versions are “almost never cheaper than their physical counterparts.” In practical terms, even older titles such as Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart still sell for their original PlayStation Store launch price years after release. Across all surveyed exclusives, only Horizon Forbidden West had its digital base price permanently reduced, from €80 to €60.

Tweakers concluded: “If you buy a PS5 game now, statistically speaking, the physical version is most likely to cost less.”

Sony’s Digital-Only Move: Impact on Gamers, Retailers, and Pricing Power

Sony’s January 2028 deadline for ending PlayStation disc manufacturing has triggered a wave of backlash. Hundreds of thousands have signed petitions demanding Sony reconsider, and the company’s social media, including its iconic 2013 anti-DRM video, has seen millions of comments either mocking or lamenting the demise of physical PlayStation media.

Key ramifications of the move include:

• Loss of Used Game Market: Eliminating discs will make “second-hand game sales” impossible, as digital games can neither be resold nor shared.
• Retailers’ Future in Limbo: While retailers will be allowed to sell digital code-in-box games or vouchers, these are not expected to match the pricing competition prompted by physical inventory. Still, voucher codes may offer some price flexibility, but the used game ecosystem will vanish.
• Greater Revenue for Sony: Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier estimated that Sony can pocket up to 54% of the revenue on a $70 first-party digital game sale. For third-party digital titles, Sony’s cut is about 40% per game. Previously, disc-based sales involved retail, distribution, and manufacturing costs, reducing Sony’s share.
• Industry analysts warn: “retailers and price-sensitive customers will be the biggest losers.”

Moreover, Sony gains more control over pricing tactics, including potentially “anti-consumer practices like dynamic pricing, which raise and lower prices for different people, and which further obfuscate the value of games.”

Price Observations and Key Takeaways (2022-2026):

• PS Store digital pricing is rarely lower than physical retail—unless a game is in a temporary sale.
• Physical PS5 games usually see gradual, permanent price drops. In contrast, digital games can stay at launch price years after release.
• Only Horizon Forbidden West among the tested first-party titles has seen a permanent PlayStation Store price cut, from €80 to €60.
• The end of discs, slated for January 2028, will kill the used games market and restrict price competition.

This shift will hand Sony tighter financial control and expanded profit margins, a reality that raises industry-wide questions about consumer value, retail viability, and the future of affordable gaming.

Quotes:

• “A game’s price will typically drop over time at retail, but the same is not true for the PS Store, where games can still be found at their full launch prices years after release. That’s assuming they’re not included in any ongoing sales.” — Tweakers report
• “If you buy a PS5 game now, statistically speaking, the physical version is most likely to cost less.” — Tweakers report
• “Retailers and price-sensitive customers will be the biggest losers.” — Industry analyst
• “Sony gets to keep more of every game sale. For a typical $70 game, it can be as high as 54 percent, and it’s 40 percent for a third-party game.” — Jason Schreier, Bloomberg
• “Anti-consumer practices like dynamic pricing, which raise and lower prices for different people, and which further obfuscate the value of games.” — Industry commentary

Summary:

• Decision: Sony to end manufacturing of physical PlayStation discs starting January 2028
• Research Period: July 8, 2022 – 2026
• Data Sources: Tweakers Pricewatch, PSprices (Netherlands)
• Key Finding: Physical PS5 games almost always cost less than their PS Store equivalents
• First-Party Price Drops: Only Horizon Forbidden West dropped permanently (€80 to €60); others unchanged
• Sony’s Revenue per Digital Sale: Up to 54% (first-party), 40% (third-party)
• Secondary Market: Used game sales will become impossible with the end of discs