'Don't Kill the Disc' — Independent Retailer's Petition Urging PlayStation to Keep Physical Games Surpasses 115,000 Signatures

An independent video game retailer has launched a petition calling on Sony to reverse its decision to eliminate disc drives from PlayStation consoles, gathering over 115,000 signatures so far.

PNP Games, a Canadian independent retailer, started the change.org petition asking fans to join in urging Sony to preserve physical PlayStation games. As of this writing, the petition has 115,471 signatures.

Sony faced significant backlash last week after announcing it would phase out physical game discs on PlayStation consoles starting in 2028. This move affects not only PS4 and PS5 games but also the upcoming PS6, which most analysts agree will launch without a disc drive. The decision drew criticism from mainstream outlets like KFC, Domino's, and even celebrity comedians. An IGN poll asking 'Do You Support an All-Digital Gaming Future?' indicated that the vast majority of gamers oppose Sony's direction.

Sony has also come under fire from developers, publishers, and retailers, who stand to lose when new PlayStation games ship with only a download code in the box. Jade Pearce of PNP Games highlighted ownership and preservation concerns, warning that Sony's decision will cost jobs.

"Physical games support an entire industry that an all-digital future quietly erases: retailers, distributors, manufacturers, warehousing and logistics, the pre-owned and trade-in market, and the collector and preservation community," Pearce said. "That is thousands of jobs and countless small businesses. Ending physical media removes consumer choice, weakens local economies, and hands a few platform holders total control over how, and whether, you can access the games you buy."

Pearce added: "We are not against digital. We are against digital being the only option. A large and passionate community still wants a real, physical game they own outright, and Sony is about to take that choice away."

The petition's comments reflect strong opposition to Sony's anti-disc push. Stephen from Sun City Center, Florida, wrote: "I've been a gamer on PlayStation since the PS1 days, and many of my favorite games have been on PlayStation systems. However, I'm a physical media gamer, and I refuse to support any gaming company that tells me I don't have the option to own physical media. I hope Sony will reverse this decision, but if not, they will cease to get business from me after January 2028."

Sid Shuman, Senior Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, defended the decision in a PlayStation Blog post, stating it was "in response to shifting trends in consumer preference." He added: "This is a natural direction for Sony to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."

Piers Harding-Rolls, games industry analyst at Ampere, noted that data supports this shift. "Console gaming is the last hold-out for physical media in the gaming sector, but physical product has been declining in importance," he said. "Back in 2013 when the PS4 launched, only 13% of full game unit sales for Sony consoles were digital. Fast forward to 2025, and that digital share stood at almost 80%. Inevitably, there will be concerns around choice, accessing older games on new consoles, collecting, and preservation, but purchasing trends are clear."

Harding-Rolls also suggested Sony is motivated by profit. Digital sales generate more revenue for game companies, as publishers keep about 70% of the sale price after Sony's 30% cut. When PlayStation goes fully digital from 2028, companies including Sony will make more money from software sales. Additionally, removing the disc drive could lower PS6 production costs amid rising hardware expenses due to the AI boom. Analysts expect the PS6 to launch in late 2028, aligning with the disc phase-out.

The question remains whether Sony will reverse its decision. Despite the petition and online backlash, it seems unlikely. Sony's share price rose after the announcement, indicating market approval. Analyst Robin Zhu from Bernstein told the Financial Times: "If gamers and preservationists had bought more physical games, Sony wouldn’t have seen the digital sales ratios that justify this decision. Digital game sales carry essentially 100% incremental margin, while the cost of physical packaging, shipping, and retailer margins can exceed 20% of the sticker price."