Overview
- Sony announced in early July 2026 that it will stop producing physical discs for all new PlayStation games starting January 2028 and will sell boxed copies only as download codes.
- Rockstar confirmed that Grand Theft Auto VI, due on November 19, 2026, will have no playable disc and that retail boxes will contain only a download key.
- Sony says digital sales now dominate the PS5 era — the company reported about 78% of recent PlayStation game sales were digital — a shift the company cites as driving the decision.
- The move has provoked strong backlash from gamers and some retailers who warn it removes the ability to resell, lend or archive games and cited past cases where digital purchases became inaccessible.
- The announcement came as Microsoft is cutting roughly 20% of Xbox jobs, underscoring wider industry cost pressures and prompting questions about regional market differences and hybrid packaging options such as cartridges with download keys.