Sony announced on July 1, 2026, that starting January 2028, all new PlayStation games will be released only in digital format, with no physical discs produced after that date [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Games released before 2028 will still have physical discs produced and available for reorder by publishers, allowing continued access to existing disc-based titles [1].

New games after January 2028 will be sold digitally through both the PlayStation Store and retail outlets via digital codes [1, 5]. Sony said the decision stems from a clear consumer preference shift towards digital purchases and reflects broader industry trends [1, 3, 5]. Despite this, Sony continues to ration the supply of attachable disc drives for PS5 consoles, which still support disc-based games [1].

The move sparked strong backlash from PlayStation owners and game collectors worldwide, who voiced concerns about losing physical ownership and challenges related to game preservation [6, 4, 7]. A petition urging Sony to reverse the decision gathered over 200,000 signatures according to IGN, though other outlets reported over 175,000 signatures [6, 8]. Some PS5 users protested by canceling PlayStation Plus subscriptions, but analysts expect this will not affect Sony’s plans [8].

Industry observers note this shift may mean the upcoming PS6 console will also lack a disc drive to support a fully digital ecosystem, although Sony has not officially confirmed this [1, 9, 10]. This raises questions about backward compatibility and access to older disc-based games on future consoles [9, 10]. Pricing studies suggest physical copies are often cheaper than digital versions, a concern for consumers losing disc options [11]. Sony’s strategy contrasts with rivals like Nintendo, which continues offering physical game cards preserving a tangible collectible format [12].

Sony emphasized that the change aligns with how the majority of players currently prefer to acquire and play games [5, 3]. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, said, "I sympathize with physical media fans, but Sony will not reverse this decision. They of course knew what the online reaction would look like, and they now wait for this storm to pass" [8]. An anonymous PlayStation fan expressed frustration, saying, "Seriously, the strategy is to ignore millions of us players? Not a single mention, even just to show a minimum of respect? Ostrich strategy and that's it?" [6].

Sony’s complete switch to digital distribution will take effect January 1, 2028, from which point no new physical PlayStation discs will be produced [1, 2, 3, 4, 5].