Only 7 PlayStation Games Have Sold Over 100,000 Physical Copies in the U.S. This Year

Amid backlash over Sony's plan to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games starting in 2028, sales data reveals the overwhelming dominance of digital. On July 1, Sony confirmed it will discontinue physical game discs for new releases from January 2028, citing shifting consumer preferences. Analysts insist Sony won't reverse course, with Circana's Mat Piscatella noting that only seven PlayStation games sold over 100,000 physical units in the U.S. this year, and just two sold over 10,000 units in the week ending July 11. The UK's Digital Entertainment and Retail Association criticized the move as "a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice," noting that 25% of under-25s still use discs and the disc market was worth over £300 million in 2025. However, analysts point to digital's profitability: Sony keeps 100% of revenue from first-party digital sales vs. 65% from physical, and 30% from third-party digital sales vs. around 15% licensing fees. With nearly 80% of full game purchases now digital, experts say the trend is irreversible, and even a protest cancellation of 500,000 PlayStation Plus subscriptions would be a "drop in the ocean" for Sony.