Sony has revealed plans to cease manufacturing physical game discs for all new PlayStation titles starting in 2028, as stated in an announcement made on Wednesday. This decision was attributed to the increasing preference among customers for purchasing and downloading games digitally. However, this move has sparked backlash from gamers who are apprehensive about losing true ownership of their game collections.
In a recent post on the PlayStation Blog, Sid Shuman, Sony’s communications director, disclosed that the production of physical game discs for upcoming PlayStation console releases would be terminated from January 2028 onwards. Consequently, PlayStation games will only be accessible through the online PlayStation Store, with retail copies in stores being exclusively offered in digital formats. Existing and upcoming games with a retail version will still be obtainable on discs.
Sony also disclosed the forthcoming closure of online stores for its older PlayStation 3 and PS Vita devices in select markets this year, with a global expansion of these closures scheduled for 2027. The company cited the incompatibility of these older devices with modern commerce systems and updated payment processing standards as the rationale behind this decision.
Furthermore, it was announced that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI will be launched with a download code rather than a physical disc in its physical releases. Sony, in collaboration with Philips, played a pivotal role in developing the compact disc format and popularizing CD-based video games in the 1990s through the first PlayStation console.
The digital landscape has significantly transformed video game sales, with an increasing number of people opting to purchase and download games online rather than from traditional retail outlets like EB Games or Best Buy. According to Daniel Ahmad, a games market analyst at Niko Partners, the majority of Sony’s full game unit sales in the past year were digital, accounting for 78%. Xbox’s digital sales during the same period were reported to be at 90%.
Despite the shift towards digital sales, there were still 70 million physical PlayStation games sold last year. Mat Piscatella, a games industry analyst based in the U.S., highlighted that sales of new physical games in the country amounted to $1.6 billion in the 12-month period ending in May 2025, compared to $11.5 billion in 2009.
The adverse reaction from gamers to Sony’s decision was palpable, with many expressing their discontent on the company’s social media platforms. Developers and industry insiders also voiced their concerns, with Iam8bit, a producer of special editions of classic games, expressing profound disappointment at the shift away from physical games.
In conclusion, analysts predict an inevitable all-digital future for games, with Sony’s move seen as a cost-cutting measure aimed at driving revenue solely through the PlayStation Store. This strategic decision is anticipated to shape the landscape of gaming consumption in the years to come.
