Sony’s plan to stop manufacturing physical games in 2028 puts more pressure on the PlayStation Store. If digital becomes the main way to buy PlayStation games, the storefront will need to offer more than a place to download software.
A July 30 Push Square feature lays out eight changes that could make the transition easier for customers. The suggestions focus on ownership, discoverability, social tools, pricing, and rewards.
1. A refund policy that considers playtime
PlayStation’s current digital refund rules leave customers with little room to test a game. A refund may be possible when a download has not started, but beginning the download usually removes that option.
That approach can be frustrating when a game has technical problems or simply fails to match its store description. Steam’s familiar two-hour refund window offers a practical comparison, although even that system has faced abuse. One indie developer recently complained that players were completing a short game before requesting their money back through the platform’s policy, as discussed in a Reddit discussion.
A shorter window could still give PlayStation customers a fair test without turning the store into a free rental service. Even 30 minutes of playtime would be a major improvement over having almost no meaningful trial period.
2. Digital games should be transferable
Physical games have always offered options that digital purchases lack. Owners can lend a disc to a friend, sell it after finishing the game, or give it away.
Sony could introduce a controlled version of those same features for digital licenses. A temporary transfer between accounts could let someone lend a game, while a permanent reallocation could provide a form of resale or gifting. Limits would be needed, but giving customers more control over purchases would build trust in an all-digital store.
3. The wishlist needs to work everywhere
The PS Store already has a wishlist, but its usefulness is limited when it fails to load on the console. Customers may have to use Sony’s website instead, even though the wishlist is meant to track future purchases.
The feature also needs clearer information. Games included in the PS Plus catalog do not always show the price a customer would pay to own them. Release dates, discounts, downloadable content, and other updates should be visible from one central page.
Wishlists have become an important part of how publishers promote games before launch. Sony should treat them as a proper planning tool, not a half-finished bookmark system.
4. Store discovery should reach beyond the biggest games
The PlayStation Store is good at placing major releases in front of customers. It is far less helpful when someone wants to find a smaller game that fits their tastes.
Sony has removed large amounts of low-quality software from the store, but cleanup alone will not solve the discovery problem. The console, website, and app all need better ways to surface games based on genres, past purchases, play habits, and personal preferences.
Sony has also discussed using AI to study purchasing habits and recommend more relevant games. Used carefully, that could help customers find titles they would otherwise miss while giving smaller developers a better chance to reach the right audience.
5. Gifting should be built into the store
Sending a PSN voucher is currently the closest thing to buying a digital game for someone else. A direct gifting system would be far more convenient.
Customers should be able to choose a game, select a friend or family member, and send the purchase through the PS Store. The feature would make birthdays and holidays easier while giving Sony another straightforward reason for people to buy games.
6. Game pages need more useful information
PlayStation Store product pages can feel bare compared with the pages offered by competing PC storefronts. Sony has added user reviews, but many listings still provide only the basics.
Richer pages could include more screenshots, videos, artwork, detailed descriptions, and clearer information about editions and downloadable content. Developers could also post updates directly on a game’s page, creating a place for announcements and community discussion.
Community guides and strategies could make those pages more useful too. Bringing more information into the store would help customers make better purchase decisions before starting a download.
7. Discounts should keep older games in circulation
The PS Store already runs large sales with thousands of discounted games, sometimes at very low prices. Still, an all-digital PlayStation market would need regular and competitive promotions to match the value of physical clearance sales.
Sony would need to balance lower prices with the need to protect the value of games. Constantly cutting prices can hurt publishers, but a steady rotation of worthwhile sales can give older releases a longer life.
Without physical stock taking up space, games can continue selling years after launch. The store should support that longer sales cycle with discounts that bring older titles back to customers’ attention.
8. PlayStation needs a replacement for PS Stars
Sony’s PS Stars loyalty program is scheduled to shut down, removing one of the few ways customers could earn rewards from their PlayStation spending and activity.
A replacement could offer points, store credit, game-related rewards, or small bonuses tied to regular purchases. The system would not need to give away large amounts of money to feel worthwhile. Even modest rewards could make customers feel that their spending is recognized.
A loyalty program would also give Sony another tool for keeping customers within its store. The company would benefit from repeat purchases, while players would have a clearer reason to return.
The PS Store has to earn customer trust
Sony’s physical-release decision makes these requests more pressing. When customers lose the ability to buy, lend, or resell discs, the digital alternative needs to provide better service in return.
Refunds, transfers, gifting, better discovery, richer product pages, stronger discounts, a functional wishlist, and customer rewards would not replace every benefit of physical media. They would, however, make the PS Store feel more like a marketplace built for the people using it.
Which PS Store improvement would matter most to you? Share your thoughts in the comments, and follow us on X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Instagram.
