Sony to end physical game disc releases by January 2028

Sony Interactive Entertainment has announced that it will cease the distribution of physical game discs for PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028. From that date onward, new games will be sold through digital platforms, with physical retail copies containing only digital download codes. The company states that this shift reflects changing consumer preferences toward digital media. This decision follows a similar move by Rockstar regarding the release of Grand Theft Auto VI. Existing games and titles released prior to the 2028 deadline will remain unaffected by this transition. While Sony claims this is a natural market evolution, the announcement has faced criticism from gamers concerned about the loss of physical media collections. Furthermore, the company has recently faced scrutiny for removing over 500 digital titles from user libraries due to expired licensing agreements, sparking discussions about digital ownership rights.