Overview
- Sony confirmed in early July 2026 that new PlayStation game discs will no longer be produced after January 2028, with future retail boxes expected to contain download codes instead of discs.
- Company and industry reporting say the change is driven by much larger margins on PlayStation Store sales, which let Sony capture a far greater share of each game’s price than physical retail does.
- The announcement has produced sustained consumer backlash, including petitions with hundreds of thousands of signatures, organized calls to cancel PlayStation Plus and intense social media criticism.
- Retailers and second‑hand sellers warn the move will raise prices and end trade‑ins because digital purchases are license‑based and cannot be resold or traded like discs.
- Legal and commercial pressure is growing: a Dutch consumer group filed a $457 million suit on behalf of 1.7 million users arguing the 30% store commission will inflate prices, while analysts say Sony is unlikely to reverse course despite the protests.