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Sony's recent decision to stop producing new games on discs from 2028 has made waves among gamers. Now it turns out the changes reach far beyond the PlayStation Store's catalogue. The manufacturer has begun restructuring its manufacturing chain, preparing for a world without physical media. It's a sign that there will probably be no turning back from digital distribution. The effects of this decision will be felt by far more companies than just Sony.
Disc factories find a new purpose
Sony DADC, the company responsible for producing optical discs, has begun preparing for a new phase of operations. The main plant in Thalgau, Austria, which currently produces around 600,000 discs a day, will be converted. The company has invested about €30 million to start production of microlenses used, among other things, in modern electronics. According to Sony DADC's CEO, around half of the plant's current output is related to PlayStation. Once the release of new games on discs ends, a significant portion of that volume will disappear. That's why Sony has decided to ready the factory for new tasks before 2028. Similar changes have already started in Japan. The local plant cut staff and ended production of recordable optical media. Everything suggests the decision to abandon discs was made well in advance and covers the whole supply chain. This means a return to physical game releases is becoming increasingly unlikely. Sony is steadily preparing its infrastructure for the era of digital distribution.
Retailers and the Blu-ray market will feel the effects too
The shift to digital sales will affect more than just console makers. It could hit stores that sell boxed games hard, such as GameStop and other retail chains. Lower demand for physical releases means reduced sales and a diminished role for traditional retail outlets. For now, films on Blu-ray discs are not at risk, as their production will continue. However, the physical media market has been steadily shrinking for several years. LG, Samsung and Oppo have already pulled out of Blu-ray player production. Questions are increasingly being raised about the future of UHD Blu-ray players produced by Sony itself. If the trend towards digital distribution continues, further market segments could gradually disappear. For many collectors, this marks the end of an era. The games industry is increasingly moving towards a world completely without physical media.
Sony's decision to stop releasing games on discs is having far wider effects than originally expected. The company is retooling its factories, and retailers and the entire physical media market will feel the changes. Everything indicates that digital distribution will become the dominant way of buying games in the coming years.
source: flatpanelshd
