Data compiled by industry analyst Mat Piscatella of Circana shows that only seven PlayStation games have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in the United States so far this year, with just two topping 10,000 physical units in the week ending 11 July. The figures emerged amid a backlash over Sony's announcement, made on 1 July, that it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028, switching entirely to digital distribution through the PlayStation Store and retailers. Analysts say the sales data explains the commercial logic behind Sony's decision, even as fans launch petitions and voice concerns about game preservation and ownership.

Sony has said the move reflects a "natural direction" driven by consumer preference, stressing that games already released or due out before January 2028 in disc format will be unaffected. However, the cited figures are limited to the US market and exclude regions such as Europe, where physical sales remain more significant; the UK's Entertainment Retail Association has criticised the decision as "a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice", citing its own data showing a quarter of under-25s still buy games on disc. Analysts nonetheless believe Sony is highly unlikely to reverse the policy.