Sony is ceasing physical game production for PlayStation consoles in 2028
Today is a big – and rather grim – day for physical games media. Sony has announced that it is ending physical disc production for PlayStation consoles in January 2028. That means from January 2028, new games will only be available digitally via the PlayStation Store and third-party retailers.
It’s monumental news, really, pretty much confirming that the PlayStation 6 won’t support physical media. And it’s yet another blow to high street and online retailers who focus on selling physical media. Some of them were already pretty vocal about Rockstar Games’ decision to release Grand Theft Auto VI as a code-in-a-box rather then a physical disc, but it appears that was the shape of things to come.
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today,” reads a statement on the PlayStation Blog. “We’ll continue to prioritize 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.”
Alongside the news that physical disc production will cease in 2028, Sony has also announced that the PlayStation Store on both PS3 and Vita will be closing starting later this year, with it being unavailable worldwide from July 2027. Put the two together and you have a somewhat harrowing picture of an all-digital future. Though we should note that while the PlayStation Store is being closed on PS3 and Vita, you will still be able to download and use any purchases into the foreseeable future.
