Overview
- Sony confirmed it will cease making physical PlayStation game discs for new releases starting in 2028 and is already setting rules for reorders and boxed download-code options for retailers.
- Manufacturing partner Sony DADC is repurposing its Thalgau, Austria plant and retraining staff as disc volumes shrink, a concrete operational step tied to the shift toward digital sales.
- Developers at Sandfall, makers of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, described the move as "super sad," explained why they still produced a costly boxed edition, and said team members bought copies in stores as a symbolic gesture.
- The decision follows industry data showing roughly 78–80% of PlayStation full-game sales are digital, and it has triggered large consumer petitions, retailer warnings about lost trade‑in revenue, and legal complaints in Europe.
- Beyond business impacts, creators and preservation advocates warn the end of discs raises questions about ownership, long-term access, resale markets, and how future games will be archived for players and historians.