Sony says it will continue with plans to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games by January 2028, despite strong criticism from some fans. The company argues that the wider shift towards digital content makes the move necessary, but opponents warn it could weaken game ownership, resale options and long-term preservation.

Sony’s finance chief, Lin Tao, said the company had considered community opposition before deciding to proceed cautiously. In the 2025 financial year, physical game sales brought Sony just over $781 million, compared with about $6.5 billion from digital games and $8.4 billion from in-game purchases; a protest blackout is planned from 23 August.