Sony’s been keeping quiet as gamers rage about PlayStation’s plan to end production of discs for new games starting in 2028. At the time of publication, just under 300,000 people had signed a petition on change.org asking Sony to keep physical PlayStation games. The outrage is hard to miss online. From forums to YouTube channels, gamers are venting their frustration.
On July 1st, Sony quietly revealed on the PlayStation Blog that it will be ending physical disc production in January 2028 for new games on PlayStation consoles. It was a low-key announcement for a move so big, and it came soon after Sony revealed that PlayStation would be deleting 551 movies that were purchased by users. The content removal was due to content licensing agreements with purchased content from Studio Canal.
That’s why owning physical media is so important in the age of digital downloads. Yes, the PlayStation Store is convenient and offers access to many other games, but the downside is licensing. Access can be shut off without notice, and that essentially means we don’t own anything. As I show in the video above, 13 years ago Sony even made a video showing why disc sharing was important for gamers. How things have changed.
For now, Sony is weathering the storm as gamers urge Sony to overturn its decision. It makes sense to pursue a fully digital download service, and many gamers prefer it. Xbox is likely to go the same way because, like PlayStation, they offer consoles with no disc drive, a clear pointer to future devices.
So whether it’s a game or movie, hold onto that old physical copy because it’s the only way you can be certain you’ll be able to play or watch it again in years to come.
