New PlayStation games will no longer be released on discs from January 2028, the gaming giant has announced – a move that has been branded a “body blow to consumer rights” and an “attack” on gamers and retailers alike.
Sony said in a blog post that while future games would still be available to buy in shops, they would come with a digital code only. The announcement comes just days after Rockstar confirmed that the hotly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI would similarly launch without a physical disc.
“PlayStation will stop releasing games on discs from January 2028, replacing them with digital codes.”
Sony described the decision as “natural” as “consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital”. It 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.”
But the move has sparked immediate backlash. Gaming journalist Vikki Blake called it a “body blow to consumer rights”, warning: “It’s 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.” She added, referencing a past Sony advert: “Just one console cycle ago, Sony made a tongue-in-cheek advert about how easy it is to share games on PS4 as a dig at competitor, Xbox. 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”. “We still see millions and millions of PlayStation games sold as physical goods,” he said. “It’s a significant business and there are lots of players that prefer to buy this way. It’s tough news for retail.”
Lootbox Gaming, an independent retailer in Delaware which declined to stock the discless physical edition of GTA 6, called the decision “an attack on not only gamers and collectors, but also developers, publishers, distributors and retailers around the globe”. A spokesperson said: “Essentially, this is an attack on anyone who cares about video games or cares about the right to own your purchases.”
Sony stressed that the change would not affect games already released or those arriving before January 2028. However, the company is already facing criticism for pulling over 500 films and TV shows purchased on the PlayStation Store from people’s collections with no compensation. Sony said its arrangement with film production company StudioCanal has ended, meaning it no longer has the rights to sell those titles, and they will disappear from users’ libraries on 1 September.