Overview
- Sony announced the policy on July 1 and will stop manufacturing discs for new PlayStation releases in January 2028 while allowing publishers to order discs for games released in 2027 or earlier.
- The decision has prompted a rapid consumer backlash with a Change.org petition run by PNP Games nearing 200,000 signatures and widespread criticism from prominent developers and preservation advocates.
- PlayStation’s official social channels were largely silent for nearly a week after the announcement and a July 7 promotional post for a fight stick drew tens of thousands of replies focused on the disc decision.
- Sony’s disc partner Sony DADC is already repurposing its Thalgau plant and retraining staff while investing about €30 million to make optical microlenses as disc volume is expected to fall sharply by 2028.
- Analysts say digital sales drove the move, but critics point to past removals of purchased digital content and planned PS3/PS Vita store closures as evidence that a digital-only model raises real risks for consumer access, game preservation and second‑hand markets.