Every single PS4 game released will be available for download, Sony has confirmed.
Speaking to The Guardian, Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida revealed that users of its forthcoming PlayStation 4 console would be able to download every game released for the console.
“We’re shifting our platform more and more to the digital side,” Yoshida explained, before adding that “PS4 will be similar to PS Vita in that every game will be available as a digital download, and some will also be available as a disc.”
This is in contrast to the current situation with PS3 games, in which only selected games are made available for download.
Beyond mere convenience, Yoshida spoke of some of the other benefits to such a wide-reaching download approach. One aim with PS4 is to adopt and App Store-like ecosystem in which smaller developers can create low-cost games and sell them digitally for a very small fee.
“Because of the flexibility of the digital distribution scheme,” Yoshida said, “we can have more small games that might be free or available for a couple of dollars, or different services like free-to-play or subscription models.”
Sony has dabbled with the small game concept in this generation through the PlayStation Minis scheme, but it seems this approach will be made integral to the PS4 experience.
Yoshida went on to talk more about the idea of a Spotify-like subscription model for PS4 games. “Hypothetically we can look at different models – like a cable TV company,” he said, with multiple package tiers being made available.
The ultimate goal would be a scenario where “with one subscription you have access to thousands of games,” said Yoshida.
Are you looking forward to downloading all of your console games, or do you still prefer the physical shopping experience? Let us know in the comments section below, or take to the Trusted Reviews Twitter and Facebook feeds to have your say.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
