Even though these are titles from two generations ago, savvy gamers are already making extra money off the situation. Following the announcement that the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita is closing, it appears that prices for games intended for these consoles are rising sharply, with some titles seeing dramatic price increases. This is mainly evident in the U. S. secondhand market, where private sellers and retailers are trading their discs. Reports indicate significant price increases for PlayStation 3 titles on platforms like eBay. The main reason is easy to understand. Once Sony shuts down the official PlayStation Store, players will no longer be able to purchase most of these games digitally. This will create greater demand for the remaining physical copies. As previously mentioned, Sony plans to shut down the PlayStation Store for the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita within a year. Although there is still about a year until the shutdown, Sony postponed the closure following strong backlash from the community when the plan was first announced. After July 2027, players will no longer be able to purchase digital PlayStation 3 or PlayStation Vita games through the PlayStation Store. This is expected to significantly impact the physical game market for both platforms.

Without an official, consistently accessible digital store, the value of the remaining physical copies is expected to increase significantly. This could lead to further price increases, especially for rare games. However, there is no guarantee that this trend will continue. It is somewhat surprising that prices are already rising well before the store’s closure. The price of some games has already quadrupled. For instance, Puppeteer is reportedly listed on eBay for over $200, and the price of Folklore has risen well above $100.

This situation is sure to worsen over the coming months.

Source: MP1st