Physical disc production ending in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles

Soldato
Joined
29 Oct 2005
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Yikes. Goes some way to suggest Rockstar won't be changing their minds either.

I've not been a console gamer for years, but the ability to rent / trade / resell games was always a big part of the console appeal.

I thought we'd have to wait for the next gen for discs to be killed off completely.
 
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That's a bit rubbish for people who like to collect things. I get the games need to be installed to run these days but can't see this going down very well.
 
Just coming in here to post some sarcasm :p

In all seriousness you can see the explosion on social media with this, it's now clearly the biggest news of the day and just more horrendous news in 2026 off the back of everything else.

I guess GTAVI is leading the way here, but I can understand if this means some people don't want to buy next-gen consoles any more. Felt inevitable that it would happen at some point, but even so.
 
As I put in the other thread:
This is utterly terrible news. I'm not against the CHOICE to buy digital vs physical; and I have bought digital on PC, and also on certain games across the various current gen consoles, but at the same time, I and everyone I know who games prefers to buy physical, for MANY REASONS.

This is terrible for gamers, terrible for retail, and if they do not undo this, they have just handed Xbox and Nintendo a serious selling point moving forwards; as even Nintendo realised physical was important by moving away from download codes to game key carts this generation, which whilst requiring a digital download, is a step backwards from pure digital account locks, by at least offering something you can trade/sell/swap etc.

I've got Gigabit internet, so speed/download times are not my concern, but loss of control of my media, and essentially choice of where to purchase it (everything becomes PSN store only, with costs controlled by Sony and limited distribution sources), and the increasing cost of console storage mean I'm completely against this.

****
In all seriousness, if they stick with this, they've just handed Microsoft/Xbox and Nintendo a massive potential selling point here; I realise we're at the point where most games need downloads of some kind now, but even now, not everyone has access to a connection where a casual 50-100GB download is easy or don't have issues with caps or restrictions.

Add on that games will continue to get larger, and this really reeks of pure cost saving, and customer clamp down, rather than any positive news, and with the recent closure of prior Sony stores, and also WITHDRAWING purchased movies from buyers, Sony must be really blind if they're not realising what a big 'DONT BUY FROM ME' this is putting on them.

I'd have probably bought a PS6 when it landed, even if it was an expensive machine, but no choice of physical, assuming the others still have it, means they're basically my last choice now if the others are even slightly competitive and retain physical. And I LIKE my PS5 Pro, I typically buy games for it over the Xbox because it's a better machine, BUT I've got a physical disc drive...
 
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I know in the past Digital Foundry have talked about Phil Spencer mentioning how difficult it was to source optical drives, so I think it would be interesting to get more details on. I also remember Techmoan on Youtube talking about Sony UK quietly pulling all new BluRay players. So I'm sure that plays a part as much as the ratio of digital to physical sales.
 
Literally Game Over. Won't be buying their next console Ps6. They will now make sure even if it is ps4 and Ps5 compatible that your physical media you own won't work on it and to rebuy everything digitally again. LOL no chance after their recent 550 plus movies pulled from their digital movie purchases.

Also this comedy for anyone who owns ps3 and vita digital.


I don't trust Sony anymore and tired of their business games now. Zero respect for their customers now.
 
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I guess the PS6 will launch around Jan 28 then!

Inevitable news about physical media but it’s still big for them to finally come out and say it.
 
Personally I prefer physical - often being able to buy later down the line at a discount, and being able to sell games on, helps to take the hit of the fact gaming is fast becoming a luxury imo

If the PS6 goes digital only, then the PS5 will likely be my last console - I'll check out what Xbox offer, or maybe go back to PC gaming; though I've not done that since 2004 ish.

It wouldn't be so bad if digital prices were lower, but they never went lower than physical historically, so it was only a convenience thing really - and I don't mind standing up to pop a disc in
 
Sony....the same company who announced last week 550 plus movies pulled from their digital service and no refund.

Right kick in the face but I see push back coming from this.

Whole point of digital was to be cheaper than physical and that has never happened.
 
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Happy to be wrong, but I don't think there will be enough push back to reverse course.

It will be same as every time PS+ goes up. People online will complain, but when Sony comes knocking and wanting more money, majority bend over.
 
Happy to be wrong, but I don't think there will be enough push back to reverse course.

It will be same as every time PS+ goes up. People online will complain, but when Sony comes knocking and wanting more money, majority bend over.

Yup, always the way. It feels like a big deal when it's posted all over Reddit/Forums etc. But in reality that's a very small minority of enthusiasts that feel strongly about it, the vast majority don't actually care, and are very happy to just download it.
 
Happy to be wrong, but I don't think there will be enough push back to reverse course.

It will be same as every time PS+ goes up. People online will complain, but when Sony comes knocking and wanting more money, majority bend over.
80% of game sales are already digital, the market has shown Sony they can do this now, regardless of what happens with online discourse
 
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