Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that it will stop pressing discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028. Titles released after that date will be available only as digital downloads from the PlayStation Store and other digital retailers.
What changes — and what doesn’t
The decision applies only to new releases. Games already available on disc, and those that come out before the cut-off date, will continue to be produced in physical form. Players who own disc copies can keep playing, selling, lending and collecting them as before.
Why Sony is doing it
Sid Shuman, Sony’s senior director of content communications, said the move reflects a clear trend: most players now buy and play their games digitally. Ending disc production for new titles, the company says, brings its distribution in line with how the majority of its customers already build their libraries, and simplifies the process.
What it means for the next console
The announcement has fuelled speculation about the next PlayStation. Sony has not confirmed any details of a future console, but with new games no longer released on disc, many expect it to come without a built-in drive, or with an optional one for players who want to use older physical games.
What players lose
For many gamers the change marks the end of an era. Physical copies can be resold or lent to friends, kept on a shelf and, in some cases, become collector’s items. Digital purchases, by contrast, are tied to an account and cannot usually be resold, and some players worry about what happens to their libraries if a game is removed from a store.
On the other hand, digital games can be downloaded instantly, update automatically and do not take up shelf space.
The wider trend
The games industry has been moving steadily towards downloads, subscriptions and cloud streaming for years. Physical games may follow the path of vinyl records in music: no longer the mainstream format, but still valued by enthusiasts. For second-hand game shops, including independent stores on the islands, the change is likely to mean a gradual shift towards retro and collector’s titles.
