PlayStation to Eliminate Physical Discs for New Games by 2028

PlayStation has announced a plan to stop releasing physical discs for new games starting in January 2028. Sony Interactive Entertainment described this move as a ‘natural direction’ to align with consumer trends. However, some fans have expressed frustration over this decision.

In a significant change, new PlayStation games will only be available in digital form from the PlayStation Store and other retailers. Sony stated that this transition closely matches how most users currently access and play their games.

Despite Sony’s explanation, the decision received backlash from the gaming community. Some commenters on the announcement deemed it ‘really disappointing’ and ‘terrible’. One fan voiced a concern, saying, ‘We literally own nothing now but licenses’, and criticized the decision as ‘horrible’. This incident is reminiscent of the reaction to the Grand Theft Auto 6 pre-orders last month, where Rockstar announced that the physical edition would only include a code for a digital download.

What Has Sony Said

Sid Shuman, Senior Director for Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, commented on the situation. He explained the move as part of a wider industry shift toward digital media over physical discs.

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, he stated.

He added that the transition aims to better align with how most of their community prefers to access and play games currently. Shuman assured that Sony will continue to prioritize resources for innovation in accessing games and provide choices for purchasing new games, whether through retailers or the PlayStation Store. He affirmed Sony’s commitment to delivering a world-class gaming experience and thanked fans for their continued support.

This is a developing story and further updates are expected.