Kelowna gaming experts weigh Sony’s shift away from physical PlayStation games

Sony’s move away from selling physical PlayStation games has renewed debate over what players actually own when they buy digital titles. The change has frustrated many gamers, but some local retailers say it could increase interest in physical copies. Sean Sterling, owner of Retro Realm in Kelowna, said digital purchases are usually licences tied to an account rather than items that can be resold or traded. He argued that this limits ownership in a way that physical discs do not. Sterling said the shift could affect stores that depend on new game sales, while retro game shops may benefit as collectors look for physical media again. He added that demand for older titles appears to be rising as buyers reconsider the value of owning complete games.