Former Square Enix Executive Claims Digital-Only PS Store Would Lead to Cheaper Games, But Players Remain Skeptical
A former Square Enix executive has suggested that the shift to a digital-only PlayStation Store could lead to cheaper games, but players remain unconvinced.
## The End of Physical Discs: A Concern for Players The recent announcement by Sony to discontinue the production of physical discs for PlayStation from January 2028 has sparked widespread concern among gamers. The move is expected to eliminate the secondary market for used games and force gamers to purchase digital copies of their games, potentially leading to a surge in PS Store sales. However, a former executive from a major game publisher, Square Enix, has a differing opinion on the matter. ## Competition and Pricing: A Potential Silver Lining? Jacob Navok, a former director of business development at Square Enix, took to X/Twitter to express his thoughts on the matter. According to Navok, the competition between game publishers in a digital store could lead to lower prices, similar to what is seen on Steam. He argues that the key to lower prices lies not in the competition between digital stores, but rather in the competition between games within the same store. To illustrate his point, Navok cited the example of Final Fantasy XVI on Steam, which has seen its price decrease over time due to competition from other similar games in the store. Applying this logic to the PS Store, Navok believes that a shift to a digital-only platform would lead to more frequent price drops and dynamic pricing, similar to what is seen on Steam. ## A Skeptical Community While Navok's argument may have some merit, the gaming community remains unconvinced. The recent trend of dynamic pricing on the PS Store has not supported Navok's claim, and many players are concerned that Sony's decision is driven by a desire for greater control over the PS Store, rather than a genuine interest in reducing prices. Moreover, the shift to a digital-only platform raises concerns about game ownership and the potential for Sony to inflate prices without consequence. The majority of players remain skeptical about the benefits of a digital-only PS Store and fear that they will be the ones to suffer as a result of Sony's decision.
