Five years ago, PlayStation threatened to shut down the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita digital storefronts, and backtracked after the negative response. Now, they're back to do it again, as the PS3 and Vita stores are closing as soon as August. Bad news for all the digital-only games out there, but it will also have a knock on effect on physical games as well.
That's because a bunch of cheap games available for download only had limited print runs. DLC, for instance, is rarely available on disc – so many PS3 games may now feel incomplete to play if you only have the base game on disc. Likewise, stone cold retro classics available for the price of a coffee or two to download are already fairly expensive in collector's markets. With legitimate cheaper options axed (some are streamable, which is an imperfect solution for many), these are sure to only rise.
