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The article cites Jacob Navok pointing to Final Fantasy XVI’s falling Steam price as an example of how publisher competition on a digital storefront can drive prices down over a game’s lifecycle. It also notes counterevidence: research from a Dutch lawsuit finding digital PlayStation games cost an average of 47% more than the same game on disc, and the observation that Steam’s heavy discount culture has not similarly appeared on PSN or the Nintendo eShop despite most console sales being digital. 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

They argued Sony’s phase-out of physical PlayStation discs would leave digital sales as the only sales channel, enabling Sony to dictate prices and terms without market competition and describing that as anti-competitive behavior. They also claimed the removal of physical media would limit consumer choice and make it harder for smaller developers to compete, and that the digital-only model shifts ownership and control over game access and pricing to the platform. Answered

The complaint argues that phasing out physical discs would make digital software sales the only sales channel for PlayStation games, allowing Sony to dictate prices and terms without market competition. It says removing physical media could limit consumer choice and make it harder for smaller developers to compete. The complaint also contends the digital-only model shifts ownership to the platform, giving Sony more control over game access and pricing and removing real physical ownership from buyers. Answered