Sony has announced that it will stop releasing new PlayStation games on physical discs from January 2028, marking a major shift towards digital-only gaming as consumer preferences continue moving away from physical media.
In a statement published on the official PlayStation Blog, the company said that all new titles released after the deadline will only be available digitally through the PlayStation Store or via download codes sold by authorised retailers. Gamers will no longer be able to purchase newly released PlayStation games on Blu-ray discs.
The announcement comes as the gaming industry prepares for the highly anticipated launch of Grand Theft Auto VI, which is expected to become one of the biggest-selling entertainment products in history. Its planned digital-only release has already sparked criticism from some gamers, who argue that eliminating physical copies would also end the second-hand resale market for new games.
Sony clarified that the change will not affect games released before January 2028. Existing physical titles will continue to be sold, and games launched before the deadline will still be available in disc format.
The company said the decision reflects changing consumer habits, noting that digital purchases have become the preferred option for most PlayStation users. Sony first signalled this transition in 2020 with the launch of the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition, which was released without a disc drive.
Industry data supports the trend. According to Ampere Analysis, digital game sales accounted for just 13% of PlayStation purchases when the PS4 launched in 2013. By 2025, that figure had climbed to nearly 80%, highlighting the rapid shift towards downloadable games.
Despite the growing popularity of digital gaming, the announcement has drawn mixed reactions. Many gamers expressed concerns over losing the ability to collect physical copies, preserve older games, and resell titles after completing them. The move is also expected to affect specialist game retailers that rely on physical game sales.
The decision has also fuelled speculation that Sony’s next-generation console, widely expected to be the PlayStation 6, will be released as a digital-only system. Analysts believe the console could arrive towards the end of 2028, although Sony has yet to officially announce its launch plans.
