Sony Ends Physical Disc Production for New PlayStation Games by January 2028

Sony has announced that it will cease production of physical game discs for all new PlayStation console releases starting January 2028. This surprising move comes on the heels of Rockstar's decision to skip a physical disc version of GTA 6, which is expected to dominate console game sales from this November onward. The new policy applies to all publishers and marks a significant shift toward digital-only releases, leading some analysts to speculate that it hints at the PS6 launch timeline.

"In response to shifting trends in consumer preference, new games will be released on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only," said Sid Shuman, Senior Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, in a PlayStation Blog post. "As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. This transition has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format."

Shuman added, "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment 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. We’ll continue to prioritize our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store. We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans and we thank you for your continued support."

Piers Harding-Rolls, a games industry analyst at Ampere, called the announcement "a watershed moment for the industry" on Twitter. "Console gaming is the last hold-out for physical media in the gaming sector, but physical product has been declining in importance," he noted. "Back in 2013 when the PS4 launched, Ampere data shows that only 13% of total full games unit sales for Sony consoles were digital (including digital-only games). Fast forward to 2025, and this digital share of full game purchases stood at almost 80% of the total. Inevitably there will be concerns from PlayStation gamers around various aspects of this announcement including choice, accessing older physical games on new consoles, the ability to collect physical games, and game preservation, however the purchasing trends of gamers are clear."

Rockstar has faced backlash for not releasing GTA 6 on disc, but in light of Sony's announcement, it may not be surprising. Instead, Rockstar is offering a physical version that contains only a download code. This means players will have to download the game, and from January 2028, all PlayStation games will follow suit. According to analysts who spoke to IGN, Rockstar's decision makes commercial sense for several reasons. Meanwhile, some retailers are refusing to sell GTA 6 because the physical version lacks a disc.

In related news, Sony has also announced the closure of the PlayStation Store for PS3 and Vita, starting next month in certain countries.