An important step toward what most consider to be the inevitable digital delivery future arrives this week when EA’s Burnout Paradise becomes available to download for PS3 users via Sony’s PlayStation Network Store.

The move was first confirmed last month.

The European price has not yet been confirmed, though US gamers will be charged $30 – or under £20. The digital version will also include the numerous updates made available to disc owners since release, including the recent bikes and weather update.

This is just the latest in a string of events propelling digital distribution to the forefront of console gaming. Sony has made several of its titles, including Warhawk and Gran Tursimo 5 Prologue, available simultaneously on both PSN and at retail, whilst recent release Ratchet & Clank: Quest for Booty cut out the retail release altogether.

Both Microsoft and Sony have also increased the selection of past generation titles available to download through their services, with the Xbox Originals selection slowly growing and a good assortment of PSOne and PSP titles on PSN. And, of course, Nintendo’s Virtual Console offers a digital treasure trove of classic titles to download.