GoKawiilSony has announced today it's ceasing production of discs for PlayStation games, effective January 2028. Beyond that point, PlayStation games will be available digitally only. Notably, PlayStation games will continue to be sold at retail, just without a physical disc.
This applies to all games releasing on PlayStation, including third-party titles, not just those produced by Sony Interactive Entertainment. This won't affect games released prior to January 2028, or those that have already been released.
Image credit: Sony Santa Monica, PlayStation.
"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 announced via a PlayStation Blog post.
"Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only."
The company called the transition "a natural direction" to "adapt to consumer trends", noting that "the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs". According to Sony, digital is how "most of our community prefers to access and play games today".
"We'll continue to prioritise our resources 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," Sony said in closing. "We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans and we thank you for your continued support."
Sony's announcement follows Rockstar's announcement that Grand Theft Auto 6 will come with a download code in a box rather than a physical disc. It's a move that most notably stamps out second-hand reselling of a game.
Image credit: Insomniac / Adobe Stock
This marks a significant shift for the games industry, and the first of its kind from any major platform holder. While Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft have all flirted with the idea in the past, none have issued a blanket ceasing of all physical media production before.
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