Sony has begun placing warning stickers on new PlayStation 5 console packaging, alerting buyers that physical game disc production will cease from January 2028. The notice confirms that all future PlayStation titles will be sold digitally through the PlayStation Store or via retailers in digital-only format, marking a significant step in the industry's shift away from physical media and prompting renewed criticism from gamers who value ownership, collecting and second-hand trading.

The sticker states that discs released before January 2028 will still work on PS5 consoles, but nothing new will be issued on disc afterwards. It has appeared on both Digital and Disc Edition consoles, as well as on standalone disc drives, suggesting the change applies broadly rather than to a specific model. Sony's Chief Financial Officer, Lin Tao, reinforced the decision in a late-July investor call, saying the company had "cautiously considered" the move and intends to proceed while trying to "engage the gamers" in a future all-digital ecosystem. Xbox, by contrast, is reportedly exploring ways to let players digitise existing physical libraries ahead of its next console, Project Helix.