Sony to Cease Physical PlayStation Game Disc Production by January 2028

Sony announced on Wednesday that it would only release PlayStation games in digital formats, no longer producing any physical discs, from January 2028.

Sid Shuman, a senior director at Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, called the move a "response to shifting trends in consumer preference."

The change will save production and distribution costs but will also limit options for consumers, particularly those keen to swap games or buy or sell on the second hand market.

The decision follows soon after news of a release date for the long-awaited Grand Theft Auto VI release, and the announcement that this game would only be available as a digital purchase.

What did Sony say about the move away from physical discs?

"As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028," Sony's Shuman wrote in a PlayStation blog post.

After this date, new games will only be available on the online PlayStation Store "and at retailers in digital format only."

The move will have no impact on games released prior to this date, the Japanese tech giant said.

"This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs," Shuman wrote. "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.

Sony said it would continue to work to "drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store."

What are the benefits and drawbacks of digital games?

Eliminating disc production should reduce costs in the game production process. It will remove the costs of making and distributing the discs, as well as other associated expenses like producing and printing instruction booklets in physical form. However, these expenses pale in comparison to game development outlays.

There are several reasons why consumers are gravitating towards online purchases and downloads, not least the convenience of ordering from the couch, controller in hand.

Also, a physical disk can be damaged or lost, dangers that do not exist with an online license to download.

However, discontinuing discs is liable to upset some players, possibly younger ones with less disposable income above all.

Removing the physical games from the market seems liable to mean it will no longer be possible to buy a game second hand, or sell a game you no longer play, or swap or borrow friends' games.