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‘There’s a Lot of Resentment for Sony’: Sources Go Back and Forth on Publisher Backlash to PS5 Physical Discs
Developed over time first seen 3 months ago
Reports circulated over the weekend that Sony might reverse its decision to stop manufacturing PS5 physical discs, following backlash from some fans and speculation that Microsoft could keep its next Xbox fully physical. However, industry sources have since pushed back on the rumour, with Digital Foundry's John Linneman saying smaller publishers remain "largely very upset" about the move, while veteran executive Richard Browne insists there is "no talk of Sony changing strategy" and that all publishers are working to Sony's 2028 discless timeline.
Sony plans to end disc manufacturing in January 2028 and has said the backlash, which includes a fan "blackout" of the PS5, is having "no impact" on its business; it has also begun retraining staff at its Austrian disc plant, suggesting the decision is firmly set. Linneman noted that major AAA publishers back the shift because digital sales offer better margins, while smaller, boutique publishers rely more heavily on physical sales and may lean towards the Switch 2's physical market instead. Browne added that Microsoft would also likely go discless with any future console, contradicting the rumour that sparked the story, which reportedly originated from a Eurogamer Spain podcast.
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In short
- Rumours of Sony reversing its no-disc PS5 policy are being disputed by industry sources
- Digital Foundry's Linneman says smaller publishers remain very upset over the change
- Veteran exec Browne says no strategy change discussed; 2028 discless plan stands
How this story developed
- 2 months ago Reports circulated over the weekend that Sony might reverse its decision to stop manufacturing PS5 physical discs, following backlash from some fans and speculation that Microsoft could keep its next Xbox fully physical.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Sony’s shift to discless production can be defended as a response to an industry increasingly organised around digital sales, which offer publishers better margins and avoid the costs of manufacturing and distributing discs. If major publishers and Microsoft are moving in the same direction, Sony may see the change as a practical long-term strategy rather than a reaction to temporary fan campaigns.
The case against
Physical discs still matter to players who value ownership, resale, lending and access to games without relying on digital storefronts. Smaller and boutique publishers may also depend more on physical releases for sales and visibility, so ending production could narrow their options and weaken a format that serves parts of the market even if it is less profitable for major publishers.
Explained simply
PlayStation 5 games can be bought as downloads or on physical discs. Sony makes discs at a plant in Austria, and some smaller publishers depend more on boxed games because physical releases can make up a larger share of their sales.
Publishers have different reasons for favouring each format. Digital sales can bring larger margins for big companies, while physical editions remain important to some smaller and specialist publishers; Nintendo’s Switch 2 is another console with a market for physical games.
Sony has said it plans to stop making PS5 discs in January 2028. The change matters to players who prefer owning boxed games and to publishers whose business relies on them, as well as to shops and workers connected with disc production.
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