Sony's plan to stop manufacturing PlayStation discs by January 2028 threatens to wipe out the global second-hand video game market, according to analysts. Market research firm Dataintelo estimates the pre-owned games, hardware and accessories trade is currently worth $7.2bn worldwide, a figure that had been forecast to grow to $13.8bn by 2034 before Sony's move cast doubt over its future. Industry analysts warn that removing physical discs eliminates consumer choice and the trade-in economy that has long subsidised new game purchases for many players.

Consoles made up 42.3% of the used market's 2025 revenue, with North America the largest region at 36.8% (around $2.65bn), followed by Europe at 28.3% and Asia Pacific at 24.6%. GameStop, Amazon, eBay and Decluttr dominate the North American market, while CEX leads in Europe, where the UK, Germany, France and the Nordics are the biggest markets. Wedbush's Michael Pachter said roughly a third of games have historically been sold used and predicted "brick and mortar game retail is doomed," while Morningstar's Kazunori Ito noted the shift is being forced on consumers rather than chosen by them. Sony's decision won't affect discs already in circulation, but is seen as a strong signal that the next-generation PS6 will be digital-only.