Sony has announced a major change for its PlayStation video games. Starting in January 2028, the company will stop making physical game discs for all new PlayStation games. Instead, new games will only be available to download.
After January 2028, players will still be able to buy games in physical stores, but the boxes will contain a digital download code instead of a disc. Players can also buy games directly from the online PlayStation Store. Sony clarified that this change will not affect older games or games released before 2028.
Sony explained that this decision is a natural step because players' habits are changing. Most gamers now prefer to download games rather than buy discs. In 2013, only about 13% of PlayStation games were bought digitally. By 2025, that number had grown to nearly 80%. Other big game publishers are also moving to digital-only formats. For example, the highly anticipated game Grand Theft Auto VI is expected to release only as a digital download.
However, many gamers are unhappy with this decision. Critics are worried about what will happen to game ownership. With digital downloads, players cannot easily resell their games to others or buy cheaper used games. There are also concerns about game preservation, as digital games can sometimes be removed from online stores in the future.