Report: Sony offers digital PS Vita games for less than their retail counterparts

While the PlayStation Vita allows users to purchase the same games either at retail or digitally, Sony confirmed today that online customers in the United States will receive a bit of a discount. According to a Sony representative speaking to game blog Shacknews, Sony has chosen to mirror its strategy in Japan, and will offer discounted pricing for U.S. PlayStation Vita titles downloaded via the PlayStation network. Sony has not yet announced official pricing details, though a user on the online forum NeoGAF uncovered Best Buy database entries noting that download codes for PlayStation Vita titles would retail for 10 percent less than their physical equivalents. With this new pricing structure, Sony will be able to more easily encourage digital purchases on its new handheld, while still giving users the option to buy games via physical media. Previously, Sony tried forcing users to make the digital transition with the UMD-less PSPgo, though that platform quickly flopped, and has since gone out of production. The PlayStation Vita is set to launch in North America on February 22.