Sony isn’t phasing out discs quite as quickly as we thought
Sony has clarified that reports of its last remaining disc-manufacturing plant winding down production almost entirely were mistaken, though the company's plan to end new PlayStation disc production by January 2028 remains unchanged. The Thalgau, Austria plant run by Sony DADC will see only a modest decline in output rather than the near-total collapse initially reported, meaning physical disc production will continue at a more significant scale for longer than expected. This matters because it offers some reassurance to consumers and retailers who feared an abrupt end to physical game sales, even as the broader industry shift towards digital-only distribution continues.
The confusion stemmed from a misinterpreted statement by a Sony DADC executive, who had reportedly said the plant would produce 90 percent fewer discs in 2028; a company spokesperson has now told journalist Brian Crecente that the true figure is a 10 percent overall decline in product volume, not a drop to just 10 percent of current output. Sony DADC declined to confirm further details, including earlier reports that all 300 plant employees were being retrained to work on microlenses instead of discs. Notably, even after new disc production ends in 2028, Sony will still allow publishers to place re-orders for existing PlayStation disc titles, which may explain the slower-than-expected transition.
- Sony clarifies disc output will fall 10%, not to 10%, by 2028
- Thalgau plant's disc production winding down more slowly than reported
- Publishers can still reorder existing disc titles after 2028 cutoff
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Sony PlayStation discs have already begun a slow phase-out, with the company saying it plans to stop producing new physical discs for its consoles by January 2028 as more gamers buy games digitally. Much of this production runs through a Sony DADC plant in Thalgau, Austria, one of the few remaining facilities of its kind, which also plays a role in the wider debate over how quickly physical media is disappearing from gaming.
Confusion arose after comments from a Sony DADC executive were widely reported as meaning the Austrian plant would cut disc output by 90 percent by 2028, alarming consumers and retailers who rely on physical copies of games. This has since prompted Sony to step in and correct the record on the pace and scale of the changes.
This matters because physical discs remain important to some players, collectors and retailers, and to game preservation more broadly, even as the industry increasingly favours digital downloads. How quickly manufacturing winds down affects availability and pricing of disc-based games in the years running up to the 2028 cut-off.