PlayStation 3 offers day-one digital discounts on retail games

SCEA has a new PlayStation Network initiative designed to get users to buy downloadable games, allowing PlayStation 3 owners to purchase discounted digital releases on the same day they're released to retail. Starting October 2, the "PSN Day 1 Digital" program will offer a selection of downloadable PS3 games day-and-date with the release of their physical counterparts. PlayStation Plus members (annual subscriptions are $50) will receive a 10 percent discount for several titles during their first week of availability. One of the primary hindrances that has kept many console owners from purchasing full digital game releases online is that they are typically priced identically to physical copies, even though they lack perks like the game's packaging and resellability. Sony is the first console maker to adopt this stance of discounting day-one digital releases -- Microsoft has previously said that it's against offering day-one digital releases on Xbox Live, while Nintendo does not reduce pricing for the downloadable eShop versions of its retail 3DS games. The initial titles announced so far for the PSN Day 1 Digital program include NBA 2K13, Dishonored, Doom 3: BFG Edition, and Need for Speed: Most Wanted. Resident Evil 6, 007: Legends, Assassin's Creed III, and Medal of Honor: Warfighter are also part of the program, but PS Plus subscribers will not receive a discount on those games.