Overview
- PlayStation announced in mid‑2026 it will stop making physical discs for new PlayStation titles after January 2028.
- Sony has told developers that publishers can still place orders for discs of games released before the cutoff and some publishers are selling boxed editions that contain download codes instead of discs.
- Retailers, second‑hand sellers and collectors warn the move risks lost sales, reduced store traffic and job cuts and will push shops to focus more on accessories, collectibles and used or digital offerings.
- Players and consumer groups have organized boycotts and a Dutch nonprofit plans to seek about $450 million in damages, arguing the shift strips buyers of ownership rights and resale options tied to physical copies.
- Physical sales have fallen for years and made up only a small share of PlayStation revenue — roughly 3% in 2025 and about $1.6 billion in U.S. consumer spending from May 2025 to May 2026 — prompting worries about price competition, preservation and long‑term access to games.