It’s possible to buy full games on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, but both companies have only barely tipped its toes into the water. Traditionally, the games appear for purchase months after they’ve been available at retail.

Sony and Electronic Arts are taking a step forward with Mass Effect 3, as the PlayStation Blog notes the game will be available day and date on PSN alongside the retail version on March 6, and you can digitally pre-order on PSN now.

Anyone who pre-orders through PSN will gain access to the M55 Argus rifle. What’s that?

“The Argus is a high-powered rifle and an excellent close-range weapon. Its bursts of fire ensure ammunition conservation during lengthy conflicts. Law-enforcement agencies across the Mass Effect galaxy are adopting the Argus as their standard rifle, as much for its intimidation factor as its suppression power.”

PSN consumers also gain access to a system theme that won’t be available anywhere else.

It’s possible to buy full games on PlayStation Network and Xbox Live, but both companies have only barely tipped its toes into the water. Traditionally, the games appear for purchase months after they’ve been available at retail.

Sony and Electronic Arts are taking a step forward with Mass Effect 3, as the PlayStation Blog notes the game will be available day and date on PSN alongside the retail version on March 6, and you can digitally pre-order on PSN now.

Anyone who pre-orders through PSN will gain access to the M55 Argus rifle. What’s that?

“The Argus is a high-powered rifle and an excellent close-range weapon. Its bursts of fire ensure ammunition conservation during lengthy conflicts. Law-enforcement agencies across the Mass Effect galaxy are adopting the Argus as their standard rifle, as much for its intimidation factor as its suppression power.”

PSN consumers also gain access to a system theme that won’t be available anywhere else.

i never understood the saying "day and date"

@unstoptheday said:

i never understood the saying "day and date"

Just a turn of phrase that means "the same day."

Yeah, I saw this on psn. Very tempting !

This is cool as shit. Honestly, I wish that the CE version of the game I was buying came with a digital copy of the game. But I still like having things, so I'm not giving up the box and goodies for the ease of digital.

@patrickklepek: I mean, I get what it means just always thought it was odd they had to come up with a different term for it. I may just be looking into it too much.

@patrickklepek: How do you turn a phrase?

Have to respect EA's push for digital distribution.

I think this news is great for the game industry and bodes poorly for retailers. If more games adopt this practice in the future, not only do you get rid of used games, but you also get rid of shipping costs, printing costs, retail markup, and other middle-man related costs. In the long run, the game developers (or console license controllers) get a bigger cut of the profits and that's good for everyone. Just don't expect fancy Gamestop-funded commercials for games if this pans out. Also, it'd be nice to get my games asap on release date, though I imagine console pre-loading is a long way off.

Mass Effect is probably one of my favourite game franchises ever but this From Ashes stuff has made me seriously considering boycotting. Never considered it with any game before but I feel like they are abusing the loyalty and devotion of the hardcore fans to a point where I cannot save face and give them my money at the same time.

You do it to yourself, EA.

I was highly considering playing through the 360 version (as the demo was better on that system). But when it comes to games I'm a big fan of digital distribution, looks like I shall be getting the PSN copy.

off topic, not sure patrick will be able to teach everyone the nuances of the english language.

on topic. this is really cool.

@unstoptheday: Well, saying the same day probably wasn't specific enough when the term was first used, because, theoretically in this situation, just because the download version comes out on, say, a Tuesday doesn't mean it's the same Tuesday as the retail one. (i.e. it could be a week later). Possibly.

I'm all for digital distribution, if only my wireless internet didn't suck so much ass that it would take a week to download the whole game ><

@Sgtpierceface: Did you not see last weeks TNT? Vinny was turning a pass phrase (or password as it's also known) in all sorts of different ways!

When do we get the article about the insane petition?

I wish I could buy the xbox version digitally on day one, the disc-drive of my 360 is on it's last legs. And I don't really want to buy a new console.

EDIT: And the dumb web they are spinning around this game with all the different pre-orders and social media crap is really getting out of hand.

Just cancelled my Amazon pre-order...No need for a physical copy.

Since when do Mass Effect guns have ammo, other than heavy weapons.

Do this more video game industry.

DLC: The Game.

I'll just sit back and watch the disaster unfold.

@steelknight2000 said:

Since when do Mass Effect guns have ammo, other than heavy weapons.

Since it became a third person shoooter.

ME2 heatsinks == ammo

Now that is very very cool! Too bad Microsoft didn't do the same, good on Sony.

One problem PSN does not update till like 9:00 PM. I can go to the store, buy it and play for 5 hours before it would even be available for download. Then I'd have to wait 2+ hours for it to download. I see no value in this at all. It's not even cheaper.

Can you pre-download? That's a important feature for me when I comes to pre-ordering games digitally. I want to be able to play my games ASAP. If I have to wait for it for it to download (and this is PSN, so it'll probably take a couple, maybe a few, hours), then I'd rather just go buy a hard copy if I'm that desperate for it.

@Make_Me_Mad said:

When do we get the article about the insane petition?

W... w... what? I don't... what is... what?

@Tennmuerti said:

@steelknight2000 said:

Since when do Mass Effect guns have ammo, other than heavy weapons.

Since it became a third person shoooter.

ME2 heatsinks == ammo

Lies and slander.

Bioware did not check themselves before they riggity wrecked themselves.

@Make_Me_Mad said:

When do we get the article about the insane petition?

That's EA marketing for you. I can only imagine the batshit insane ideas they scribble on whiteboards while brain storming when stuff like that is what passes through.

Not really shocked, concisdering they did the same for ME2 (which I bought Digitally). But I already got the Amazon pre-order, plus credit so.... there's that.

But still, I wish more Devs took this route.

I am still getting the physical copy, since I am a fan of the previous ones and want the collector's edition. But if other games follow suit, I will jump on them a lot more...

Custom taxes are a mayor detriment for me to get some games, so I welcome any chance I get to skip that step...

Hmm. Looks like I'll be downloading this one. Although I wonder why so many people continue to trade-in at Gamestop when you can get much better value either trading with friends or reselling on Amazon.

@Make_Me_Mad said:

When do we get the article about the insane petition?

Ok that was funny ... but what is that?

@patrickklepek: How do you turn a phrase?

@Atary77 said:

I'm all for digital distribution, if only my wireless internet didn't suck so much ass that it would take a week to download the whole game ><

Same. Every other device in my house gets good, fast signals. But my PS3 seems to not be able to hold a connection or download anything faster than a few a hundred kbs a second (oddly online games work fine, it's just PSN that's awful).

I respect EA for doing this like they did with ME2, however they shouldn't really do this until they get preload capabilities in place as thats the only reason to pre-purchase a digital game.

@Make_Me_Mad said:

When do we get the article about the insane petition?

The fuuuuuuuh? Somebody get Dan Aykroyd on the line!

Anyway, good for Sony. I love physical copies of games in my collection but I'm all outta room. I never thought I'd see the day when I prefer digital distribution over owning a disc.

Tipped its toes? Mix metaphors much?

@Ehker said:

@Make_Me_Mad said:

When do we get the article about the insane petition?

That's EA marketing for you. I can only imagine the batshit insane ideas they scribble on whiteboards while brain storming when stuff like that is what passes through.

How could...? Who thought that was a good....? ????

I DON'T WANNA BUY VIDEO GAMES ANYMORE! T___________________________________________T

@Zidd: Also a good reason is most/all games usually take months to get distributed digitally on the consoles, I think this is a first for a game such as this to release right away with a digital option. I don't own a PS3 but I really dig this regardless of whether PSN has 'proper' digital pre-load capabilities and what not, it's a cool step in the right direction cause I want all my games to live in my console and not in boxes scattered around my house.

@HarlequinRiot: I know right? Friggen PSN.

@DJJoeJoe: The digital versions of Mass Effect 2, and all those Sony HD collections were also available the same day as they were on shelves. This is the first game that I know of that is not a back catalogue title to do this.

I feel like there's 500 different kind of weapons you can get from pre-ordering through different stores.

I'm not even talking about being pissed since I won't get X weapon because a pre-ordered on Y store. It's just a mess, they are going overboard.

At least that's the impression I'm getting. Granted, I'm not following ME3 coverage way too much.

Hmm. I wonder if it will auto-download during my PS3's nightly auto-update (part of Playstation Plus)? That would be nice . . .

This is EA. Where's the "exclusive demo" and game breaking assault rifle sponsored by Dr Pepper and Doritos?

Silly copy & paste article.

How about a discount on the game for preordering it instead of an imaginary rifle?

The only winning move is not to pre-order from anywhere; otherwise they win.

How will ME3 work on PSN? Aren't PS3 games up to 50GB; that's a whole lot to download or store.

@TheShrubber: Theres only 3 bonus things that are for pre orders. Theres the one that comes with this download (and every retail preorder), a pack that gamestop has and an origin exclusive weapon.

GOOD! I'm doing this. Go digital!

It's nice to have more options, but I'm sticking with physical copies of my games. Couldn't have let a friend of mine borrow ME2 any other way.