An upcoming European law is set to change how video games are packaged in stores – even the codes-in-boxes PlayStation plans to sell after they stop making disc games.
As explained by Jon Cartright in a new GVG video, the EU is set to pass the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), a law intended to minimize packaging waste.
As best we understand, Jon is referring to this clause in the PPWR:
The problem of excessive packaging waste generation cannot be fully addressed by laying down obligations on packaging design. For certain packaging types, obligations to reduce the empty space ratio should be imposed on economic operators who fill or otherwise use such packaging.
In the case of grouped, transport and e-commerce packaging used for supply of products to final distributors or end users, the empty space ratio should not exceed 50 %.
Jon cites Switch 2 cases, but this will be an even bigger issue for Sony’s codes-in-boxes. Sony cannot justify cases as big as on the PS5 just for game codes.
Sony could resort to the paper boxes Microsoft uses to sell Windows codes for the EU, if not the whole world.
