AU deals this week: God-tier discounts, Vita turns 13, and what to actually buy

Buy the game, not the bargain bin: this week’s Aussie deals that actually matter

If your backlog is judging you, this week’s Australian-price sales make a decent case for forgiveness. The spread Adam Mathew collected for Steam News skews away from shovelware and toward games that defined genres or polished them to a mirror finish – think Elden Ring, Persona 5 Royal, Hades and a few platforming staples at sensible AUD tags. There’s also a quiet retro note: the PlayStation Vita turns 13, and nostalgia is doing its usual nudge on prices and attention.

Key takeaways

• Pick these up without guilt: Elden Ring (A$54.90), Persona 5 Royal (A$26.10), Hades (A$12.70) – games that keep delivering long-term value.
• Switch deals lean toward platforming perfection: Super Mario RPG (A$49.90) and Rayman Legends Definitive (A$19.90) are safe, enjoyable buys.
• Be choosy on sports and live-service: NBA 2K26 is on sale but still carries heavy MTX baggage; treat it like a demo for the modes you actually want.
• Square Enix pruning out the calendar? Not this week – but NieR: Automata’s “continuará” tease matters for resale value and future discounts on back catalogue titles.

Buy these without regret

Discounts that are worth interrupting whatever you’re playing for:

• Elden Ring — A$54.90 (PlayStation). A modern open-world benchmark; this price is a fine entry point if you’ve been waiting for a reason to commit time.
• Persona 5 Royal — A$26.10 (PC). If you want a JRPG that will eat months of your calendar respectfully, this is the best time to trade social life for turn‑based style points.
• Hades — A$12.70 (PC). A compact, endlessly replayable roguelike with combat so tight you’ll forgive the loop mechanics every run.
• Super Mario RPG — A$49.90 (Switch). A remake that’s charming and mechanically tidy; not revolutionary, but a smart buy for classic JRPG fans and newcomers alike.
• Rayman Legends Definitive — A$19.90 (Switch). Still one of the most polished 2D platformers released in the last decade. Tight, generous and silly in the best way.

When to wait, and when to pass

Not every sale is a steal. Sports titles like NBA 2K26 (A$29.90) are on sale, but microtransactions still structure progression — that discount only buys cosmetic patience. Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (A$49.40 on PS4) is a bargain if you want a sprawling time sink, but if you want tightly curated quests, skip it. Hardware deals (PSVR2 sightings at ~US$299 in the wider market) are worth watching, but don’t jump unless the AU price actually matches your local VAT and shipping reality.

Retro corner: the Vita is 13 — why that still matters

PlayStation Vita’s 13th anniversary is mostly nostalgia now, but it’s a reminder that good hardware and curated libraries age well. The Vita never sold like a juggernaut, but its suite of handheld-first experiments (Gravity Rush, Uncharted: Golden Abyss, Hotline Miami) keeps collectors and emulation hobbyists interested. Those games pop up in sales and secondhand markets; if you own the hardware, pay attention to Vita-friendly remasters or ports that can suddenly add modern convenience to old favorites.

The continuation that changes bargain math: NieR’s “continuará”

Square Enix recently closed a NieR: Automata retrospective video with a single-word tease — “continuará” — reported by 3DJuegos. That’s not a date or a product, but it’s a signal: when a publisher signals future investment in a franchise, older entries and collab content often see renewed attention (and sometimes price spikes). If you’re tempted by NieR crossovers, soundtrack editions, or the base game when it hits a sale, buying now could be smart if you want to experience the back catalogue before any new announcement reshapes prices or demand.

What to watch next (actionable)

• Watch AU retail matches to US lows: God of War Ragnarok has been seen at US$19.99; if an Australian retailer or local importers mirror that, it’s a hard buy for PS5 owners.
• Check platform store cards and wallet bundles — Steam, PS Store, Xbox and Nintendo eShop gift cards occasionally carry bonuses that bump your buying power on sale days.
• Square Enix channels and official YouTube — any formal follow-up to the NieR tease will likely be posted there first; make a decision on NieR purchases before news drives demand.
• Weekend flash sales — the Steam News roundup and retailer deals typically refresh across weekends; if something’s tempting but not urgent, wait 48 hours for price matching or deeper cuts.

TL;DR

This week’s AU sales favor genre-defining, replayable titles — pick up Elden Ring, Persona 5 Royal or Hades with confidence. The Vita turns 13, reminding us retro libraries keep value over time. And that NieR “continuará” tease means the back catalogue might spike in attention; buy the classics you want before the future announcement changes prices.