Sony Interactive Entertainment has confirmed that beginning in January 2028, it will no longer produce physical discs for new PlayStation games, shifting entirely to digital distribution. The company said the move is in response to consumer trends, as digital media increasingly outpaces physical discs in popularity. According to the BBC.

Shift to digital reflects industry trends

Sony has been moving toward digital for several years. Since the launch of the PlayStation 5 in 2020, a discless version has been available, and the firm noted in a statement that the transition is a “natural direction” to align with how most of its community prefers to access and play games today, according to The Guardian.

Market analysis by Piers Harding-Rolls at Ampere Analysis shows a dramatic shift in purchasing behavior: in 2013, only 13% of game sales were digital, but that figure rose to nearly 80% by 2025. The shift away from physical media is not limited to games. Sony recently confirmed the end of its Blu-ray recorders, and major electronics firms like LG and Samsung have also discontinued their Blu-ray players, according to heise online.

Concerns over impact on retailers and collectors

Many retailers and collectors have expressed concern about the move. Lootbox Gaming, an independent retailer in Delaware, declined to stock the discless physical edition of “GTA 6” and called the shift “an attack on not only gamers and collectors, but also developers, publishers, distributors and retailers around the globe.” A spokesperson added that this move threatens the “right to own your purchases,” according to the BBC.

There are also worries about the secondhand market for games, which relies heavily on physical copies. The elimination of disc-based games could eliminate this market entirely. Harding-Rolls noted the shift could have a negative impact on specialist games retailers and secondhand sellers. According to The Guardian.

Some gamers have also voiced concerns about game preservation and the ability to collect physical copies. “It’s a catastrophe,” said gamer and content creator Conkerax on YouTube. According to The Guardian.

PS6 likely to be digital only

The move to digital-only distribution has fueled speculation that the next-generation PlayStation 6 will also be digital only. Daniel Ahmad at Niko Partners said Sony’s announcement “pretty much confirms PS6 will be digital only.” According to The Guardian.

Previously purchased disc games will continue to function as normal, and the shift only affects new titles released after January 2028. Sony emphasized that this decision is about new titles only, and that existing physical copies will remain unaffected. According to PLAY3.DE.

Rockstar Games has already anticipated this trend: “GTA 6” is being released for PlayStation and Xbox exclusively via digital download, even with code boxes available in retail. According to heise online.

It remains unclear whether Sony will stop producing Blu-ray discs entirely, including those for film publishers. The company has not yet responded to inquiries from the BBC about whether it plans to allow digital game ownership to be transferred in the future.