EU Admits It Can't Stop PlayStation from Ditching Discs: 'Companies Are Free to Offer Games and Services as They See Fit'

As gamers flood social media with petitions and complaints, the European Union has stated it is powerless to prevent Sony—or any other company—from eliminating physical discs.

Sony's controversial plan to stop releasing new PS5 games on discs starting January 2028 has sparked outrage among fans who fear an all-digital future, likely extending to the PS6. A high-profile petition urging Sony to reconsider has nearly reached 300,000 signatures, and PS5 users have been sharing screenshots of canceled PlayStation Plus subscriptions in protest.

Some hoped the EU, known for strict consumer protections, might intervene, but Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath says Sony cannot be stopped. "It comes down to commercial and contractual freedoms," McGrath told the Irish Mirror. "Companies are free to offer games and services in the manner they see fit, provided consumer rights are fully protected under national and EU law."

The backlash stems partly from concerns about ownership and game preservation. Last month, the Stop Killing Games campaign suffered a blow when the European Commission said it couldn't legally require games to remain playable after commercial support ends, citing intellectual property rights. The Commission noted that existing EU consumer law requires publishers to inform buyers about contract terms and conditions before purchase, and it plans to work with the industry to develop a code of conduct for managing games' "end of life."

With the EU stepping aside, can online protests force Sony to reverse course? Analysts say no. Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games told IGN that even if 500,000 people cancel PlayStation Plus, it would be a drop in the ocean for Sony. "They knew the reaction would be negative and are waiting for the storm to pass," he said. "Digital is just too lucrative."

Sony benefits financially from all-digital sales: for first-party titles like The Last of Us, it keeps about 65% from physical copies (with 30% going to retailers and 5% to manufacturing), but 100% from digital sales on its PlayStation Store. For third-party games like Call of Duty, Sony gets around 15% from physical copies versus 30% from digital downloads. As console sales decline due to rising costs, the digital shift boosts Sony's margins.

Meanwhile, Santa Monica Studio confirmed that God of War Laufey will be available on disc, suggesting a 2027 release, and Insomniac confirmed Marvel's Wolverine will also launch on disc.