Sony Axing Game Discs Will Have Outsized Impact on Low-Income Gamers, Experts Say

Sony plans to stop producing physical game discs from 2028, a change experts say could make gaming less accessible for people on low incomes. Used discs offer a cheaper way to buy games, while digital purchases depend on reliable internet, affordable data and access to supported payment systems.

The impact could be especially severe in Africa, where the PS5 is already unaffordable for many and PlayStation Network officially supports only South Africa. A Nigerian expert said a projected 212GB download of GTA 6 could cost $25 to more than $60 in data and take nearly 13 hours at the country’s median download speed; players using accounts registered abroad also risk losing access if Sony enforces its rules.