Overview
- Sony announced in early July that it will stop manufacturing physical PlayStation game discs for all new releases from January 2028 onward.
- A large public backlash has formed with the Change.org 'Don't Kill the Disc' petition drawing hundreds of thousands of signatures and some users canceling PlayStation Plus subscriptions in protest.
- EU Commissioner Michael McGrath told reporters the European Union cannot compel Sony to keep producing discs and the European Commission favors an industry code of conduct for preservation over binding rules.
- Sony’s disc partner has begun repurposing its Austrian plant, investing about €30 million, retraining workers and projecting disc output will fall to roughly 10% of current levels by 2028.
- Market analysts say a corporate U‑turn is unlikely because digital full‑game sales and higher margins make the shift profitable, while preservation groups and legal challenges continue to press for protections for ownership and long‑term access.