{"id":32329,"date":"2026-08-08T11:22:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:22:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=32329"},"modified":"2026-08-08T11:22:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T06:22:33","slug":"how-sony-can-soften-the-blow-of-a-digital-only-future-readers-feature","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=32329","title":{"rendered":"How Sony can soften the blow of a digital-only future &#8211; Reader&#8217;s Feature"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" width=\"646\" height=\"384\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_306041323-3c3a.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29197846\" alt=\"PS5 console with rainbow effect coming out the bottom\" decoding=\"sync\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Can Sony do anything to placate fans? (Sony Interactive Entertainment)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>With no chance that <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/sony\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">Sony<\/a> will reverse their decision to stop supporting physical media on the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/playstation-5\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">PS5<\/a>, a reader offers suggestions for how they can at least make the transition more bearable.<\/p>\n<p>By now the dust has somewhat settled and it\u2019s clear that from 2028 onwards any new releases on P<a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/06\/ps5-boxes-updated-physical-games-warning-label-politicians-call-sony-29313035\/\">layStation 5 will be digital-only<\/a>. And I imagine the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/playstation-6\/\">PlayStation 6<\/a> will not have any disc drive whatsoever.<\/p>\n<p>Given that I own a Legion Go portable PC the issue isn\u2019t necessarily a digital-only future but the fact that Sony will have a monopoly on the sale of PlayStation 5 and games going forward and how currently their digital storefront is anti-consumer in terms of pricing and refunds.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s my suggestions of ways Sony could, but almost certainly won\u2019t, reduce the sting of a digital-only future.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cheaper games<\/h2>\n<p>Wishful thinking this, I know, but if there\u2019s no manufacturing costs, no distribution costs, and no third parties such as GAME, <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/argos\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">Argos<\/a> or whoever cutting into Sony\u2019s costs and profits perhaps some of that could be passed onto the player. However, I shan\u2019t hold my breath, and I imagine when the next generation arrives prices will only rise.<\/p>\n<div class=\"factbox\" data-ico=\"factbox_article\" data-track-module=\"factbox_article\">\n<h2 class=\"factbox-title\">\n\t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<div class=\"factbox-content\">\n<p>Sign up to the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/newsletters\/game-central\/\"><strong>GameCentral newsletter<\/strong><\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">More consistent pricing<\/h2>\n<p>This somewhat ties in with my previous gripe.<\/p>\n<p>I wrote into the Inbox recently regarding some of the prices of games on the PlayStation Store. Specifically, the <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/assassins-creed\/\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\">Assassin\u2019s Creed<\/a> series, as I\u2019d recently started playing the Black Flag remake. I pointed out that most of the series are priced at \u00a350, despite some being nearly a decade old, and all of them are priced much cheaper at other outlets in physical form.<\/p>\n<p>A few people stated that the games had been on sale recently for a fraction of the price, \u00a38 or thereabouts if I recall, and that people should just wait. To me this misses the point. It\u2019s known that at certain times of the year sales will occur and if you want to wait that\u2019s fine. However, I think players should still feel able to buy an older game on a whim and that prices should be reasonable at all times and not excessively raised outside of sales just so that Sony can make it seem a better deal than it really is.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Extracting a Disc from a PS3 system\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Wh7CfD1jp8w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Loyalty scheme<\/h2>\n<p>If I\u2019m not mistaken, I think I recall Sony saying that at present <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/31\/sony-investing-millions-ps6-development-profits-increase-37-29266656\/\">82% of all games sales are digital<\/a>. I do wonder if this reflects a more casual audience who might only buy games every so often and don\u2019t pay attention to <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/games-news\/\">gaming news<\/a>, as I feel there\u2019s been a fairly vocal backlash in the comments and pages of gaming media.<\/p>\n<p>This makes me wonder if there\u2019s a sizable amount of people, like myself, who utilise trade-in, selling and buying second-hand, and shopping around in order to be able to buy games regularly throughout the year.<br \/>In some ways then, it would make sense to reward players who are regular customers with a reward scheme, though it has to be one that is worthwhile in which players can accrue points at a decent rate.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps players could earn points not only through purchasing games but playing games, earning achievements and engaging with <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/social-media\/\">social media<\/a>. So, for instance, uploading a screenshot or achievement to <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" data-track=\"inline-tag-auto-link_article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/tag\/instagram\/\">Instagram<\/a> or other platforms would result in points earned. This surely is a win-win. Players get points that can be exchanged for store credit and in return Sony has free publicity to expand their player-base.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Better practices<\/h2>\n<p>I\u2019ve heard it\u2019s a better game these days but back in the early PlayStation 4 days I pre-ordered No Man\u2019s Sky. I played it for an hour and really didn\u2019t enjoy it. I asked for a refund or store credit, but this was denied. I was pretty annoyed. For me this is a poor policy. I think a two-hour window like Steam seems reasonable to expect a refund, even if just for credit.<\/p>\n<p>I don\u2019t know much about which games are currently offered as part of the game trials on the top tier of PlayStation Plus. However, I feel all upcoming first party games should be added and this should be expanded to other tiers of PlayStation Plus.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\">\n<p>\n<span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Official PlayStation Used Game Instructional Video\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/kWSIFh8ICaA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/figure>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Pay monthly<\/h2>\n<p>This is less to do with the games themselves but more the inevitable PlayStation 6. I think now most people are resigned to the fact that it\u2019s going to be over a grand. I\u2019m sure at first it will still sell well but when the initial hype dies down, I think Sony will struggle to hit the heights of other consoles in terms of sales figures. With the cost of living and given how much the next generation of games could cost, I think many people will struggle to find that kind of disposable income.<\/p>\n<p>However, why not introduce a pay monthly option? We\u2019ve done the same with other tech, such as mobile phones, for years. I thought the Xbox All Access was a great idea. Perhaps Sony could do the same.<\/p>\n<p>Imaging instead of forking out a huge wad of cash you instead pay a monthly sum over two or three years. And maybe even this would include access to PlayStation Plus and a certain amount of store credit.<\/p>\n<p>So there you have it. I\u2019m not sure if these are feasible ideas. Possibly not. But hopefully Sony will do something to take the sting out of an all-digital future.<\/p>\n<p><strong>By reader Matc7884<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure class=\"img-container shareable-item wp-caption\">\n<div class=\"img-wrap\">\n\t\t<img width=\"646\" height=\"363\" src=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_303745905-781a.jpg?quality=90&amp;strip=all&amp;w=646\" class=\"article-image wp-image-29018080\" alt=\"Play has no limits slogan for PlayStation 5\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\"\/>\t<\/div><figcaption>Well, that\u2019s not true (Sony)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><em>The reader\u2019s features do not necessarily represent the views of GameCentral or Metro.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><em>You can submit your own 500 to 600-word reader feature at any time, which if used will be published in the next appropriate weekend slot.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><em>Just contact us at <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/08\/sony-can-soften-blow-a-digital-only-future-readers-feature-29326118\/mailto:gamecentral@ukmetro.co.uk\">gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a> or use our <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/submit-stuff\/\">Submit Stuff page<\/a> and you won\u2019t need to send an email.<\/em><\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/01\/nobody-like-racing-video-games-anymore-readers-feature-29270818\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">Why does nobody like racing video games anymore? \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/08\/01\/ps5-going-last-console-sony-know-readers-feature-29270115\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">The PS5 is going to be the last console and Sony know it &#8211; Reader&#8217;s Feature<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"metro-more-link\"><svg><title>Arrow<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#common-right-arrow\" href=\"#common-right-arrow\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"mor-link\" data-track-module=\"mor-link_article\">MORE: <a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/07\/26\/playstation-handled-news-going-all-digital-readers-feature-29217883\/?ico=more_text_links\" class=\"\">How PlayStation should have handled the news about going all-digital \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<section id=\"share-buttons-bottom\" class=\"share-buttons share-buttons-bottom\"><a class=\"metro-button share-bar-comments\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"#metro-comments-container\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Comment now<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-comment\" href=\"#social-comment\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-comments__label\">Comments<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t<\/a><a data-ico=\"hyperlink-article\" class=\"metro-button share-bar-preferred-source\" data-vars-position=\"bottom\" href=\"https:\/\/google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/metro.co.uk\" target=\"_blank\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span><svg><title>Add Metro as a Preferred Source on Google<\/title>\n<use xlink:href=\"#social-preferred-source\" href=\"#social-preferred-source\"\/><\/svg><\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"share-bar-preferred-source__label\">Add as preferred source<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a><\/section>\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card accent--gaming\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-end-card__inner\">\n<h4>GameCentral<\/h4>\n<p>Sign up for exclusive analysis, latest releases, and bonus community content.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Can Sony do anything to placate fans? (Sony Interactive Entertainment) With no chance that Sony will reverse their decision to stop supporting physical media on the PS5, a reader offers suggestions for how they can at least make the transition more bearable. By now the dust has somewhat settled and it\u2019s clear that from 2028&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":32330,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_306041323-3c3a_1786138064.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=1200&h=630&crop=1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32329","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-celebrity-gossip"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32329","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=32329"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32329\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/32330"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=32329"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=32329"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=32329"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}