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They will not be affected immediately; Sony said the January 2028 cutoff applies to new games releasing after that date, and any physical games released before January 2028 are not affected. After that point, new game releases will be digital only and physical copies will contain a code, so owners could not rely on new discs for future releases. (Related article: "PlayStation ending physical game discs in 2028, Sony officially confirms") Answered

Navok argues that current PS Store prices are anchored to physical retail pricing, so if discs disappear publishers will compete directly on the PS Store and drive prices down similar to Steam. He points to Final Fantasy XVI's falling Steam price as an example and emphasizes that publishers, not Sony, set PS Store prices, while competition between storefronts mainly changes developer revenue rather than consumer prices. He also admits this outcome is speculative. Answered

The article says publishers set their own prices on the PS Store, with Sony’s store operating more like a marketplace than a price-setter. According to former exec Jacob Navok, that means potential price changes would be driven by competition between publishers (which he argues could push prices down in a fully digital market), though the article also notes historical data showing digital prices have been higher than disc prices. Answered

The article cites a Dutch lawsuit finding digital PlayStation games cost on average 47% more than the same game on disc, which implies removing discs could leave prices higher. It also notes that Steam-style discount culture has not emerged strongly on PSN or the Nintendo eShop despite most console sales already being digital, and that Navok himself admits his view is speculative and that storefront competition often affects developer revenue shares rather than consumer prices. Answered