- Primary Subject: PlayStation 5
- Key Update: Sony announced it will completely halt the production of physical game discs for all new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028.
- Status: Confirmed
- Last Verified: July 1, 2026
- Quick Answer: Sony is stopping physical disc production in 2028 due to dominant digital sales, eliminating future disc-based game sharing, physical collecting, and traditional consumer ownership.
On July 1, Sony shocked gamers worldwide by revealing that they'll stop producing discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028.
In their blog post, they stated it was because consumers preferred owning their games digitally rather than physically. It makes sense - it's much easier to purchase a game online and immediately have it in your library than either going to the store or waiting for your copy to ship to your address.
And yet, I'm still sad. There's a certain whimsy about owning and collecting physical games.
Why I'm Disappointed Over Sony's Decision to Stop Producing Discs for the PS5
Now, let me admit something before I start this. I bought the PS5 Pro - which doesn't include a disc drive. All the games I have on my console are digital. I bought the Pro because of how much better the games will look and run compared to the base model. I almost bought the disc drive, but life got in the way, and I got stuck with getting my games on the PlayStation Store.
This isn't the same for my other consoles. On my Nintendo Switch, almost all my games are physical. I go out of my way to go to a physical retailer, purchase my copy of a game, and take joy out of putting the cartridge into my Switch and booting up the game for the first time. I even enjoy taking it out to change the game.
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There's just something about having a game physically in your hands. Something about being able to hold your copy in your hands, display it with your other games, and physically see the library you've accumulated over the years. As a gamer, it's my pride being able to see the games I have all lined up on my bedroom shelf.
Having a physical version of a game also made me feel like I truly owned it, you know? Like this was truly mine. When you have a game in a digital library, publishers can pull a game from the store, making it totally inaccessible. But with a physical game, I own whatever game it is permanently.
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Another great thing I love about owning a physical game is the ability to lend it to friends. If your friend had a game you wanted, you could just borrow their copy (and vice versa). This was great for people who couldn't afford a game or were confused about purchasing online - it promoted community, and I loved it.
Removing that option makes gaming a lot harder for some people and takes away these kinds of interactions, which is disappointing knowing that the gaming crowd used to be so tight-knit.
Do I think Sony will listen if players say they want physical discs? I doubt it. After all, an opinion is different from the statistics. But a girl can dream.
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