PlayStation to stop making physical discs for new games soon

July 2, 2026 - 05:12

The era of physical video game discs is coming to a close. On Wednesday, PlayStation confirmed that it will stop producing physical discs for new game releases starting in January 2028. Moving forward, all new titles will be released exclusively as digital downloads through the PlayStation Store.

This decision marks a major shift for the gaming industry, which has been gradually moving away from physical media for years. While PlayStation has not yet commented on whether existing disc-based games will remain playable, the announcement signals that the company is betting heavily on a fully digital future. The move aligns with broader trends, as PC gaming has been almost entirely digital for over a decade, and Microsoft's Xbox Game Pass service has also prioritized downloads over discs.

For collectors and fans of physical media, the news is a bitter pill. Many players still prefer owning a tangible copy of a game, citing the ability to resell, trade, or lend titles. However, the convenience of digital storefronts and the rising costs of manufacturing and shipping discs have made physical production less profitable. Sony has already released a digital-only version of the PlayStation 5, and this latest step suggests that the company sees no reason to maintain both formats.

The transition will not happen overnight. PlayStation has promised to continue supporting physical discs for older games and consoles for the foreseeable future. But by 2028, the familiar act of inserting a disc into a console will likely become a relic of the past.