Overview
- Sony confirmed on its July 31 earnings call that it will stop manufacturing physical PlayStation game discs starting January 2028 and will not reverse the decision.
- The company says the change is driven by the growing share of digital sales and higher profit margins from downloads, and it reports no current negative impact on its business.
- Sony plans to support retail through boxed packages that contain download codes and says publishers can still reorder discs for titles released before January 2028.
- The announcement has prompted large consumer protests including a Change.org petition and a planned PlayStation Blackout, and legal and regulatory complaints have been signaled in multiple countries.
- Disc manufacturers and some Sony partners are repurposing plants and retraining staff as physical volumes fall, and analysts warn the shift could shrink the used‑game market and affect long‑term game access.