Reports circulated over the weekend that Sony might reverse its decision to stop manufacturing PS5 physical discs, following backlash from some fans and speculation that Microsoft could keep its next Xbox fully physical. However, industry sources have since pushed back on the rumour, with Digital Foundry's John Linneman saying smaller publishers remain "largely very upset" about the move, while veteran executive Richard Browne insists there is "no talk of Sony changing strategy" and that all publishers are working to Sony's 2028 discless timeline.

Sony plans to end disc manufacturing in January 2028 and has said the backlash, which includes a fan "blackout" of the PS5, is having "no impact" on its business; it has also begun retraining staff at its Austrian disc plant, suggesting the decision is firmly set. Linneman noted that major AAA publishers back the shift because digital sales offer better margins, while smaller, boutique publishers rely more heavily on physical sales and may lean towards the Switch 2's physical market instead. Browne added that Microsoft would also likely go discless with any future console, contradicting the rumour that sparked the story, which reportedly originated from a Eurogamer Spain podcast.