Sony says it will proceed cautiously with plans to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs from January 2028, despite considerable opposition from players and industry figures. The decision matters because it would further shift PlayStation purchases towards revocable digital licences, raising concerns about ownership, preservation and access if digital stores later close.

Sony says the move reflects an already heavily digital market: downloads made up 78% of its full-game unit sales in the financial year ending 31 March. Circana data showed US physical game sales falling from 297 million units in 2008–09 to 37 million in the past year, while Sony argues consoles will remain distinct through curated content, stability and lower cost than high-end PCs.