From Decrypt · By Ryan S. Gladwin
In brief
Sony’s plan to stop making physical game discs in 2028 will hit low-income gamers around the world hardest by killing off the cheap used-game market, experts say.
In Nigeria, downloading GTA 6’s expected 212GB pre-load could cost $25 to $60 in data, a local said, and will take nearly 13 hours at median speeds.
Many African gamers use foreign PlayStation Network accounts, because PSN doesn't officially support most of Africa. This breaks Sony’s terms and risks gamers losing their entire digital library.
Gamers in low-income areas will be among the hardest hit by Sony’s decision to stop producing physical game discs from 2028, experts told Decrypt, while one African games industry expert arguing the continent stands to lose out badly.
The secondary market has long been a cheap way for gamers to get hold of games. The PlayStation Store does run sales, but buying digitally assumes a decent internet connection, which rural households are less likely to have.
"By abandoning physical discs, some players at the bottom of the economic spectrum lose access to physical distribution through retail and, more importantly, discounted used sales," Joost van Dreunen, professor at the NYU Stern School of Business and video game business author, told Decrypt. "It won't immediately show up in the financials of major game makers, since their focus is now on creating premium experiences for a luxury class of gamers."
It comes as the cost of being a gamer is trending upwards. Sony raised PS5 prices in March, for example, citing "pressures in the global economic landscape." Similarly, the next generation of Xbox is expected to cost up to $1,800, according to Fortune.
A spokesperson for UK advocacy group Gamer's Voice told Decrypt that Sony's move to cut discs will "likely affect people on lower incomes more."
'Out of reach for most Africans'
Isa Muhammad, founder of Africa and Middle East-focused games industry platform Bijetic, told Decrypt that the PS5 is already "out of reach for most Africans." He stressed that those who can buy a console still rely on the second-hand games market to afford to play on the consoles.
Well, at least the highest-income Africans could still take advantage of the PlayStation Store discounts, right? Unfortunately not. Muhammad said that the PlayStation Network is only supported in one African nation: South Africa. Many other nations are missing from the PlayStation Network's official list of supported countries.
"A gamer in Nigeria who wants to buy digitally has to set up an account registered in the U.S. or UK, then pay with foreign gift cards or a dollar card," Muhammad said.
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