Sony has begun printing warnings on the packaging of disc-based PS5 consoles, confirming that from January 2028 all newly released PlayStation games will be sold in digital format only. The notice, which appears in multiple languages on boxes now reaching retailers, signals that Sony has been planning this shift for some time and is not wavering despite backlash from fans who prefer physical media, as it also protects the firm against potential future legal complaints.

Sony has already begun retraining staff at its Austrian manufacturing plant and says online protests are having "no impact" on the decision, a stance supported by sales data showing only seven boxed games have sold more than 100,000 copies in the US this year, while digital-only Call of Duty: Black Ops ports have sold over 11 million copies combined. Discs for games released before January 2028 will still work on the console, and although players are planning a week-long "blackout" protest, Sony is forecasting record revenue for its PlayStation division this fiscal year.