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Sony’s disc-only exit could wreck the used games market
Developed over time first seen 4 months ago
Sony's decision to stop manufacturing PlayStation discs by January 2028 threatens to devastate the global second-hand video game market, according to analysts. Market research firm Dataintelo estimated the pre-owned games, hardware and accessories trade at $7.2bn worldwide in 2025, with growth forecast to $13.8bn by 2034 before Sony's move cast doubt over that trajectory. Analysts warned that removing physical discs strips away consumer choice and the trade-in economy that has long helped subsidise new game purchases, with Wedbush's Michael Pachter predicting that "brick and mortar game retail is doomed" as around a third of games historically sold used lose their resale route.
Consoles accounted for 42.3% of the used market's 2025 revenue, with North America the largest region at 36.8% (roughly $2.65bn), followed by Europe at 28.3% and Asia Pacific at 24.6%; GameStop, Amazon, eBay and Decluttr led North American sales, while CEX dominated in Europe, where the UK, Germany, France and the Nordics were the biggest markets. Existing PlayStation discs already in circulation are unaffected, but the move strongly signals that the next-generation PS6 will drop disc drives entirely and rely on digital-only distribution, while Microsoft has yet to confirm whether its upcoming Xbox will follow suit, though it is reportedly exploring ways to let players digitise physical collections.
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In short
- Sony ending PlayStation disc production by January 2028
- Analysts fear this could kill the $7.2bn used game market
- Move signals PS6 will likely be digital-only, no disc drive
How this story developed
- 4 months ago Analysts warned that Sony's plan to halt PlayStation disc manufacturing by January 2028 could devastate the $7.2bn global second-hand video game market, which had been projected to grow to $13.8bn by 2034, with Wedbush's Michael Pachter declaring that "brick and mortar game retail is doomed" as the move fuelled expectations that the forthcoming PS6 will be sold as a digital-only console.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Digital distribution is more efficient, convenient and environmentally sound than physical media. Eliminating disc manufacturing reduces waste, shipping emissions and costly supply chain complexities, whilst enabling instant global access to games and better data insights for publishers. The shift represents natural technological evolution—just as music and films have transitioned to streaming—and offers users seamless, updated gaming experiences with cloud saves and cross-device functionality.
The case against
Discontinuing physical discs harms consumer choice and economic fairness. The used-games market is vital for affordability, helping lower-income players and those in regions with poor internet access participate in gaming; digital-only means consumers merely licence rather than own games, with no resale rights or preservation when services shut down. Physical retail represents thousands of jobs, whilst relying solely on corporate digital storefronts concentrates market power in ways that ultimately disadvantage consumers.
Explained simply
Sony has said it will stop making disc-based PlayStation consoles by January 2028, moving the platform towards a fully digital future. This matters because millions of players currently buy, sell and trade physical game discs second-hand, a market analysts value at around $7.2bn worldwide. Without discs, there is nothing physical left to resell.
The used games trade involves big retailers such as GameStop, Amazon, eBay and CEX, alongside ordinary players who trade in old titles to help pay for new ones. Industry analysts warn that ending physical discs would remove that trade-in system entirely, since digital game licences generally cannot be resold or shared in the way discs can.
The change would not affect discs already owned by players, but is widely seen as a signal of where Sony is heading with its next console, expected to be digital-only. Because consoles make up a large share of the second-hand market, and because the trade has historically helped keep gaming affordable for many households, the shift has raised questions about cost, choice and ownership for future players.
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Originally published by Eurogamer as “Sony’s decision to kill off PlayStation discs could destroy the $7.2bn used game market, according to analysts”.