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Sony will stop releasing new PlayStation games on physical discs from January 2028, replacing traditional boxed copies with retail packages that contain digital download codes instead of discs.
The move marks a major step toward an all-digital model for PlayStation, as the company says players are increasingly shifting away from physical media. However, the decision has also raised concerns among gaming journalists, retailers and collectors over game ownership, resale rights and long-term preservation.
Sony said new PlayStation titles will still be sold through retailers after January 2028, but physical copies will no longer include game discs. Instead, buyers will receive a digital download code, meaning a code that allows the game to be downloaded online rather than played from a disc.
The company said the decision reflects changing consumer habits and wider entertainment industry trends, noting that audiences have increasingly moved from physical discs to digital purchases.
Sony described the shift as a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment as the market continues to move toward digital distribution.
Sony’s announcement came only days after Rockstar Games said Grand Theft Auto VI, one of the most anticipated upcoming video games, will also launch without a physical disc.
The two decisions underline how quickly major game publishers and platforms are moving away from physical media, even though boxed games remain important for many players and retailers.
The announcement drew criticism from gaming industry figures and independent retailers, who warned that the end of discs could weaken consumer rights.
Gaming journalist Vikki Blake described the move as “a body blow to consumer rights,” arguing that it would make it harder for players to lend, trade or resell games. She also raised concerns about game preservation, a term that refers to keeping games accessible in the long term after platforms, stores or licenses change.
Christopher Dring, editor of The Game Business, said the decision was surprising despite digital downloads having become the dominant way PlayStation users buy games. He noted that millions of PlayStation games are still sold as physical goods, adding that the change would be difficult for retailers that continue to depend on boxed sales.
Independent U.S. retailer Lootbox Gaming also criticized the move, calling it “an attack” on gamers, collectors and the broader games retail industry.
Sony said the change will not affect titles released before January 2028, meaning existing physical PlayStation games will remain outside the new policy.
The announcement also comes as Sony faces criticism over its digital content policies after confirming that more than 500 films and television shows purchased through the PlayStation Store will be removed from users’ libraries following the expiration of a licensing agreement with StudioCanal.
Sony has not said whether it plans to introduce a system that would allow users to transfer ownership of digitally purchased games.
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