Sony to Stop Making PlayStation Game Discs
Sony has announced that it will stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028, with all future games shifting to digital distribution only. Existing games and titles scheduled to launch before the deadline will still receive physical releases.
The company says the decision reflects changing consumer habits. According to Sony, digital purchases have become the preferred way for most players to buy and access games, making physical discs a smaller part of the business than they once were. Reuters reported that digital sales accounted for roughly 80% of Sony's full-game sales in 2025.
For many gamers, physical copies offer benefits that digital purchases cannot. Discs can be resold, traded, lent to friends, or added to personal collections. Having a physical copy means you own the game outright rather than relying on a digital license that could potentially be revoked in the future. Digital games, by comparison, remain tied to user accounts and platform ecosystems, raising concerns about long-term ownership and access.
The Video Game History Foundation was among the organizations criticizing the shift. The group has argued that the gaming industry still lacks adequate solutions for preserving digital-only titles and ensuring they remain available for future research and historical archiving.
Analysts also point to financial incentives behind the transition. Digital sales eliminate manufacturing, shipping, and retail distribution costs while giving publishers greater control over pricing.
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