Sony has confirmed it will stop producing physical game discs in January 2028, a move that will effectively end the era of disc-based gaming on PlayStation consoles.
The company announced the change on Wednesday morning. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sony stated: "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs." The company added: "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."
Starting in January 2028, new game purchases will only be available through the PlayStation store or in a digital format from retailers. That leaves roughly 18 more months of disc-based game releases on PlayStation, assuming no other companies move in the same direction before then.
The announcement came just days after Rockstar Games revealed that physical copies of its upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6 will not contain a disc at all, only a code to download the game. GTA 6, which has been in development for over 10 years and was originally slated for a 2025 release, has been delayed several times and is now confirmed for a November 19 launch. Rockstar also announced an $80 price tag for GTA 6, making it the most expensive base game in history.
The timing of Sony's announcement suggests the shift away from physical media is not limited to a single title or studio. It points toward an industry-wide direction.
PlayStation holds a significant place in the history of physical game media. While it was not the very first gaming platform to use discs, its instant success after launching in 1994 made the disc the dominant format for console gaming for the next three decades. It essentially sparked a long-running competition with Microsoft's Xbox over disc-based game libraries, while Nintendo largely avoided discs altogether in favor of cartridges.
The PlayStation 5 Pro, released last year, does not include a built-in disc drive. An external disc drive can be purchased separately for around $80. That detail was an early signal that Sony was already moving toward a disc-free future, according to a report by Collider.
The consequences of the decision reach beyond individual gamers. Physical media retailers such as GameStop have long depended on disc sales as a core part of their business. The end of disc production on PlayStation would deal a significant blow to those stores. The announcement also affects physical media collectors, who have grown in number as gaming libraries have expanded over decades.
Sony has not yet detailed what, if any, options will exist for consumers who currently own disc-based libraries. The company has not addressed backward compatibility questions or trade-in programs in connection with the announcement.
The news continues to develop.
