New PlayStation games will no longer be released on discs from January 2028, Sony has announced – a move that gaming journalists and retailers have called a “body blow to consumer rights”.
In a blog post, Sony said future games would still be sold in shops, but they would come with a digital code only. The announcement came just days after Rockstar confirmed that the hotly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI would similarly launch without a physical disc.
“Sony will stop releasing PlayStation games on discs in 2028, sparking backlash over consumer rights.”
Sony framed the decision as a response to shifting consumer habits, saying it was “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs”.
But the gaming journalist Vikki Blake described it as a “body blow to consumer rights”. She said it was “of huge concern for game conservation and a massive problem for gamers with lower disposable incomes who rely on part-exchanging or loaning games from friends to keep up with the AAA price tags”. Blake also pointed to a previous Sony advert that mocked Xbox for restrictions on sharing games, adding: “It’s not funny anymore, is it?”
Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, said the news surprised him despite digital downloading being the “dominant form of buying PlayStation games today”. He noted that “we still see millions and millions of PlayStation games sold as physical goods. It’s a significant business and there are lots of players that prefer to buy this way. It’s tough news for retail.”
Independent retailer Lootbox Gaming, based in Delaware, said it would decline to stock the discless physical edition of GTA 6 and called the move “an attack on not only gamers and collectors, but also developers, publishers, distributors and retailers around the globe”. A spokesperson added: “Essentially, this is an attack on anyone who cares about video games or cares about the right to own your purchases.”
The disc phase-out will not affect games already released or those due before January 2028. However, the announcement comes amid wider criticism of Sony’s digital policies: the company recently confirmed it would pull over 500 films and TV shows purchased on the PlayStation Store from users’ collections with no compensation. Sony said its arrangement with film production company StudioCanal had ended, meaning it no longer has rights to sell those titles, which will disappear from people’s libraries on 1 September.
Gamers had previously told the BBC they were concerned about the implications for ownership of digital content, particularly in light of GTA VI’s digital-only launch.