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Digital Versions Of Vita Games Cheaper Than Physical Copies

In Japan, downloadable versions of games for the PlayStation Vita will be cheaper; approximately $10 cheaper by US monetary standards.

But will gamers in other regions get the same discount? Well, according to Game Informer citing the NeoGAF forums, the answer is yes.

We're not sure how much cheaper the digital versions will be, but they will indeed cost less than their physical media counterparts. Here's a statement from Sony concerning the subject at hand:

"There will be a discount. Exact details will be revealed in the very near future."

In the forums, you can see a screenshot of Best Buy's release list for the Vita, and it lists downloadable games as being $5 less than the regular retail copies. That isn't official but it sounds about right. It's also a big deal because it's another step in the digital direction; if a game is actually cheaper in digital format (which it usually isn't currently), more people will be likely to pass on the physical version. And maybe that's not an altogether bad thing for portable gaming.

Still would hate to see physical media disappear entirely, though.

Tags: playstation vita, vita games, vita games cost, vita downloadable games

1/31/2012 8:31:13 PM John Shepard

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Comments (24 posts)

LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 9:26:39 PM
Reply

Wonderful news though I still see physical media being cheaper since PSN games hardly ever go down in price like the physical format does.

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Beamboom
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 2:58:14 AM

That's exactly it, except for the physical releases controlled by Sony (ergo the exclusives). I am *still* waiting for Infamous 2 to drop in price, and it's starting to annoy me.
But I'll not give in, oh no. This waiting game I shall win. ;)
Last edited by Beamboom on 2/1/2012 3:01:33 AM

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PAKINIPS
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 5:57:38 PM

Infamous 2 was £7 in my local supermarket

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RaYz89
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 9:36:14 PM
Reply

I'm confused... cheaper then what? I thought Vita only supports digital media, its cheaper then physical media....if there was a physical media for Vita?

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Wesleypipes6
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 9:43:34 PM

The Vita supports both physical and digital media

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LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 9:54:01 PM

Ray...its been known for months that the Vita will use physical media...

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RaYz89
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 10:45:38 PM

Oh really? Now I feel so stupid... So it can play the umd games for psp?
Last edited by RaYz89 on 1/31/2012 10:47:29 PM

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thepill
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 10:58:08 PM

No, vita games come on small cards. In order to play psp games you have to have the digital version.

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LimitedVertigo
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 11:43:19 PM

Use the internet...it will treat you right.

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Wesleypipes6
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 9:42:48 PM
Reply

If you plan on going all digital to take advantage of this, you still have to factor in the cost of a potentially larger and quite expensive memory card. I'm not opposed to the digital format, but a $5 discount is not worth it to me because you can't share or re-sell digital games.

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godsman
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 9:59:37 PM
Reply

It doesn't help much when you save $10 and then spend $20 for a memory card. The games are probably 2Gb to 4Gb standard so it's probably use up one card.

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Cesar_ser_4
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 10:22:57 PM
Reply

I like the idea of having digital media on the go more than physical, Since you won't have to deal with having to carry more stuff.

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BikerSaint
Tuesday, January 31, 2012 @ 11:50:09 PM
Reply

Even if digital is $5-$10 cheaper, I can't show it off on a shelve like i can with my physical collections so digital is a no-go for me.

Plus I want to see the cover art on my boxes.

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Beamboom
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 2:59:47 AM

And the manuals?

;)

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BikerSaint
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 8:31:34 AM

Beamboom,
Oh yes thanks, the manuals too, most definitely.

Physical manuals....and that's exactly why I won't be buying any new BF or ME games until AFTER they've already gotten a HUGE price drop!!!

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Qubex
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 1:21:46 AM
Reply

Hmm, wonder why this wasn't know earlier. I mean it would have saved many a "VIta and it's games are too costly" cry... ::Sigh:: Sometimes I just don't know Sony, you don't promote these facts enough.

It could be though that this decision has been a recent one so therefore it was not generally known that digital version would be cheaper than the physical carts... I will give them that if that was indeed the case.

Q!

"play.experience.enjoy"
Last edited by Qubex on 2/1/2012 1:22:01 AM

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Beamboom
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 3:00:56 AM

... Or they hold on to some good news to create positive press right before release.

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Cpt_Geez
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 1:33:36 AM
Reply

I will stick to the physical media. This isn't really a deal I'll save more money in the long run, digital will force me to buy a expensive memory card.

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___________
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 1:43:20 AM
Reply

not exactly worth it.
buy from retail and you get something to trade in, getting at least half your money back months later.
or buy from retail and return within 10 days and get ALL your money back!
or buy online and save 10 bucks or maybe 20 over retail and have zero chances of trading in, so a total loss of at least 40 bucks.
yea, i know which one im going for!

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gumbi
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 9:48:02 AM
Reply

The lack of any significant on board storage is a real shot in the foot if they want to encourage digital distribution. In order to download games you'll need pricey memory cards. I'm not sure how big these games are going to be but how many can you really fit on a 4Gb card? At $20 a pop and a $5 discount I need to fit at least 4 games on that card just to break even (and not get my case/booklet for my collection). And I'll STILL have to swap cards to play different games, which totally defeats the benefit of digital content.

I'll download the cheaper mini games because I can cram a bunch of them on the card, but for big titles I'll need way more than a $5 discount to encourage a digital purchase. I think it'll take a solid 30% discount incentive before I consider going digital on big titles. Sorry if that sounds unrealistic or greedy, but if I still have to pay extra for the storage media I need a real incentive.

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Highlander
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 10:27:03 AM
Reply

I'm glad that this has been fully confirmed. It had been mentioned before, and lots of gamers said that it was a must. Nice to see that Sony paid attention on this one. Should take a little of the sting out of the cost of a 16GB memory card.

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firesoul453
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 11:32:42 AM
Reply

Seems like physical copies are always cheaper because they have direct competition with store to store.

Even if the physical copies will have a lower MSRP, I doubt they will always be the cheapest way to get new games...


Not to mention the fact that digital copies will, in one way or another, require you to also buy whatever it is they are stored on.

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dmiitrie
Wednesday, February 01, 2012 @ 11:34:05 AM
Reply

Cool, I can only hope that this tactic finds it's way over to PS3 games. I've long held that there doesn't *need* to be discount for digital games, but it's a nice, little perk and I certainly wouldn't bi*** about it. = p

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cadpig
Thursday, February 02, 2012 @ 1:10:05 AM
Reply

What's the point of having cheaper game downloads...when your memory cards cost so much.

Are you saving anything in the long run?

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