Physical PlayStation games will soon stop existing, Sony has announced.
The company will stop making games available on physical disc from the beginning of 2028, it said.
After that point, games will only be available from PlayStation’s own online store or in digital formats from retailers, it said.
The decision had been made to reflect “consumer trends” and players’ preference for digital downloads, it said. But the move will also benefit PlayStation: its own online store is the easiest way to buy digital games, and there is no way of sharing or selling them second-hand once they have been played.
PlayStation seemed to anticipate potential criticism in its announcement, which claimed that the decision was a way of aligning “more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today”.
“We’ll continue to prioritise our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store,” Sony said. “We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans and we thank you for your continued support.”
The change will not affect any games that have already been released or will be released before the end of 2028, it said.
Some games companies have already fully embraced digital distribution, and players have been moving away from physical copies for some time. The upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, which is likely to be the biggest game in history, will come in a physical edition – but it will contain a download code rather than a disc.
It has also been reflected in the consoles themselves. From the launch of the most recent generation of consoles, Xbox and PlayStation sell versions that do not have physical disc readers.
