UPDATE: Sony has confirmed that digital games will cost about 10% less than physical copies of games. A user on the NeoGAF forums spotted a picture in the Best Buy database confirming this news. This story was originally reported on December 5, 2011, as a rumor.
ORIGINAL STORY: Sony inadvertently made some waves when prices for the Vita’s proprietary memory sticks were leaked. While high prices on what’s essentially a super SD card haven’t been popular, it turns out that Sony may have good reason to price the sticks the way they did.
According to a recent Sony event, a spokesperson indicated that Vita titles purchased on the PSN would be around 40% cheaper than hard copies sold at retailers. This difference in price is said to be the result of not having to worry about the costs associated with packaging and hardware.
While this hasn’t been confirmed by Sony’s corporate offices, this move would be in line with the pricing model outlined for the Japanese market – though the price difference is a seemingly more normal 20% as compared to the proposed US difference of 40%.
We’ll have more information on this story and others as it becomes available.
It just seems this generation's handheld console launches are being plagued with problems. Nintendo at this point is going to have the upper hand however (at the moment). Reasons being:
- Back catalog of DS library isn't useless and most titles can be found for dirt cheap. Games requiring button control can be played with the Slide Pad.
- Triple A titles are finally arriving. More due in early 2012, and thanks to Mario the 3DS will have a more established user base.
- DSiWare titles downloaded on the DSi can be transferred for free.
- While the eShop is still a black eye on Nintendo's spotless UI 3DS design, the promised interface updates should fix these problems. Smartphone and online purchasing coming in 2012 should help make the eShop come into its own.
I'm not writing this in order to trash the Vita. Nintendo did things wrong with the launch of the 3DS, but they are making amends. Sony seems to be doing their best in keeping me from buying a Vita though. The fact my UMDs are useless and Sony requires me to pay them for having my titles on the Vita is just fucking stupid. Backward compatibility folks, its not hard to do. (hi Microsoft)
I'm old. I like physical media. Unless this thing is so awesome it hurts, I don't think I'll be getting one. Everything about it so far screams "Not for you!"
You might want to put this as a rumor due to the 40% discount number, in my opinion it should be worded up to 40%. In Japan digital PSP games receive a small discount and some smaller US publishers do the same such as Xseed, but really the discount is the equivalent of $5 - $10 US when they launch with their physical counterpart.
Also, there is no way in hell that Activision would launch a physical copies of Call of Duty PS Vita for $39.99 and the digital copy version at $24.99.
10% discount for a digital copy? I'll go retail, thanks.
Me too Nick, if I even end up getting one.
Despite my earlier opposition, I find myself playing mostly portable consoles these days. I don't get total control of the TV like I used to when I was single, so I may actually be looking into a Vita... Eventually...
The Wii U will bring you back to your "single days of hogging the TV to your own."