Overview
- Sony announced on July 1 that it will end production of physical PlayStation game discs starting January 2028, moving new releases to digital-only or code-in-box retail formats.
- A Change.org petition started by PNP Games has surged past roughly 165,000–170,000 signatures as of July 7, with high-profile creators and brands publicly criticizing the decision.
- PlayStation’s official social channels have been notably quiet since the announcement while reports say the last PlayStation disc plant is being repurposed and staff retrained for other manufacturing work.
- Consumer groups and pending lawsuits in the US, UK and Netherlands, including a Dutch €400 million claim, say the move could eliminate the second‑hand market and concentrate pricing and availability control with Sony.
- The company and analysts point to digital purchases making up about 78–80% of full‑game sales, a trend that boosts margins but raises concerns about long‑term access, preservation and jobs in retail and manufacturing.