Rumour - US digital Vita titles up to 40% cheaper than retail

Picking your Vita games up online could save you big bucks, according to unconfirmed Sony comments.

A Sony spokesperson reportedly told Thrifty Nerd at an event that retail Vita games will be capped at $40, while picking up a digital copy of the same game will cost $23.

The representative, who along with the event was not named, said the reduction is due to the negation of manufacturing costs - and presumably distribution, too.

Japanese digital pricing has been confirmed as cheaper than retail releases, but not to the same order of magnitude.

An Australian Sony representative had no comment on the subject beyond a promise to share local pricing closer to the console's launch.

The possibility of significantly lower digital pricing may alleviate grumbles over Sony's pricing of Vita memory cards.

SCE Europe boss Jim Ryan said last week that the Vita won't have fixed pricing, allowing for cheaper digital releases.

Sony has indicated it will pursue a day-and-date digital and retail releases scheme for the console, which hits Japan on December 20 and the West on February 22.

Thanks, GameInformer.