Digital titles have revolutionized the video game industry. You don’t need to queue at stores to buy a game, although the act retains a sense of community. Additionally, independent developers who do not have the funds to pay for CD printing can simply release their work digitally. Unfortunately, while many gamers prefer physical games over digital games, Sony is removing this option completely.
Earlier today, Sony announced that physical disc production for new games will end in January 2028. This decision will affect all new titles released on PlayStation consoles, including third-party games and exclusives – games released before January 2028 will still receive discs. In the announcement, Sony justified the move by saying that “the preferences of consumers and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs toward digital” and that “the general preference for digital media far exceeds physical discs.”
This move shouldn’t come as a surprise, as the PlayStation 5 update comes in both disc and disc-less versions. Meanwhile, the PlayStation 5 Pro is only available in discless form, although you can purchase an optional disc drive. Ever since news of the PlayStation 6 began to circulate, rumors began to swirl that the console would be digital-only, and the no-disclosure PS5 and PS5 Pro models have only encouraged those claims. The recent announcement that Sony is moving towards an all-digital future all but confirms these rumors.
Sony does not believe that digital property is property
On the one hand, it’s easy to see where Sony is coming from. No disks means no disk drives, which means lower manufacturing costs. Sony can then pass the savings on to customers by reducing console costs, thereby mitigating some of the price spike caused by AI data centers. On the other hand, it’s hard to ignore how Sony could use this move to control your libraries. Lately, the mere concept of digital gaming has come under fire, and PlayStation finds itself squarely in the firing line.
A recent California lawsuit alleges that wording used in the PlayStation Store implies that you do not own the digital games you purchase; you simply acquire licenses to access (i.e. rent) the content. Please note, licenses that Sony can revoke at any time for any reason. Last month, Sony proved why you should keep your DVD and Blu-Ray collection, removing a number of films from its digital storefront and purging the titles from the libraries of everyone who purchased them. The same thing happened in 2023, when Sony removed Discovery TV shows from the PlayStation Store.
With Sony going all-in on digital titles, who’s to say the company can’t (or won’t) do the same with future games due to “licensing deals” and the like? Without any discs, you can only play your games as long as Sony lets you. And try not to think about the fact that you will no longer be able to share PlayStation games, sell used copies, or buy Japan-exclusive titles. Unless Sony supports the release of all “Super Robot Wars” titles in the future, you may need to get your tactical anime mecha fix on the Nintendo Switch.
