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Sony has no intention of backing down from its decision to end production of physical discs for new PlayStation games. The company confirmed that, starting in January 2028, new releases will be available only in digital form. The plan has drawn opposition from some players and game developers, who still see value in physical editions. Despite the criticism, Sony is continuing preparations for the move to digital distribution. New PlayStation 5 packaging already includes notices informing customers about the upcoming change.
Sony prepares the PS5 for an entirely digital future
A warning about planned changes to game distribution has appeared on the packaging of recently manufactured PlayStation 5 consoles. Sony states that starting in January 2028, new PlayStation games will be sold exclusively in digital format. This applies both to the PlayStation Store and to retail sellers, who will offer digital versions of new releases. At the same time, the company notes that discs for games released before January 2028 will still be playable on the console. Similar notices have also started appearing on the websites of stores that sell the PlayStation 5. Sony is thus making it clear that the plan has not been abandoned despite critical reactions. Some players even organized the #PSBlackout campaign, urging others to boycott digital PlayStation game purchases and to cancel PlayStation Plus subscriptions. The backlash stems mainly from concerns about losing physical media and control over purchased titles. Sony’s in-house studios have not widely commented on the decision, though Naughty Dog earlier signaled that it does not support this direction. The company does not intend to change the timetable. Sony Corporation CFO Lin Tao said during the recent earnings call that the decision was carefully analyzed. According to him, the primary reason is the ongoing digitization of content, which covers not only games but other forms of entertainment as well. Sony also says it will roll out the change cautiously and take the gaming community’s feedback into account.
Digital games raise concerns about users' rights
One of the main arguments of disc proponents is the issue of actual ownership of digital games. When purchasing a title from the PlayStation Store, a user does not obtain it as property in the same way as a physical copy. PlayStation itself recently reminded users of this in a notice about updates to its terms of service. The document states that the software is licensed to the user, not sold. That means a digital purchase is tied to granting the right to use the software under specific terms. The new terms also include a provision allowing PlayStation to remove all digital games from an account after three years of inactivity. This issue has further heightened concerns among those opposed to the move away from physical releases. A disc remains a physical medium that can be stored, resold, or reused on a compatible console. With digital purchases, a user is dependent on the infrastructure and the policies of that ecosystem. Sony argues that digitization is the direction the entire entertainment market is heading, not a move made solely by PlayStation. The company emphasizes that it understands players' emotional attachment to physical games and the memories tied to them. However, that does not change the plan that, starting in 2028, new PlayStation games will shift to digital distribution.
Sony is sticking to its plan to stop producing discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. The company is already placing notices on PS5 packaging to warn customers about the upcoming change. The decision has met with protests from some players, including the #PSBlackout campaign. Sony says the move reflects the market’s ongoing shift toward digital, but it will still have to face further criticism over the digital model of game ownership.
source: flatpanelshd
