Amazon Agrees To Sell PlayStation Network Tokens -- A Sign Of Things To Come?

Sony and Amazon have an interesting relationship. On one hand, they're enemies. The Kindle rivals the Sony Reader, and vice-versa. On the other, they're best of friends, with Sony now being able to sell digital downloads codes for its PlayStation wares through the online mega-retailer's website.

A newly formed agreement between the two enables it to distribute another 200 videogame downloads for Sony's PS consoles, which is pegged as a move to adjust to demands to get games on-demand and online versus in a store on a disc. Furthermore, Sony's newest PSP doesn't even accept discs, so the plan makes even more sense for Sony to construct. The deal will allow Amazon.com to offer "tokens" that are redeemable at Sony's PlayStation Network store, giving users an easy way to gift others with game credits and the like. The move is fairly significant--it's the first time since the Network opened in '06 in which another retailer (brick-and-mortar or Internet-based) has been able to sell the tokens.


Honestly, we view this as a sign of things to come. Digital downloads are only going to grow in popularity, and with the new PSP proving that you don't have to have support for a physical disc, we get the feeling Amazon could be handling these duties for other console makers in the future. As always, only time will tell.