Overview
- Sony announced on July 1 that new PlayStation games will be sold only in digital form starting January 2028 and the company has begun placing “Important Notice” warning stickers on some PS5 boxes and European product pages this week.
- Images and an updated Amazon Germany listing showing the exact sticker text have been published by multiple outlets, which industry reporters treat as evidence Sony is implementing the change rather than reversing it.
- Sony executives have defended the move, with CFO Lin Tao citing about 82% digital share of recent full-game sales as the business rationale for shifting to higher-margin downloads.
- The rollout is uneven: not all retail units or stores show the sticker, retailers are being briefed on boxed download-code packages, and disc manufacturer Sony DADC is repurposing its Thalgau plant as physical volumes fall.
- Opponents have launched large petitions, planned boycotts and legal complaints that argue the change eliminates resale and complicates long-term access and preservation, which could prompt regulatory reviews in multiple countries.