PlayStation Confirms End Of Disc Games In Catastrophic Blow To Physical Media

PlayStation has made the surprise announcement that it'll be completely discontinuing disc / physical copies of its games, selling digital-only versions in its future.

The change is due to come into effect from January 2028 so you have around 18 months to hoover up as many physical copies as you can before the new digital-only age is drafted in.

PlayStation has blamed "consumer preferences" and "shifting trends", although that isn't going to console the millions of gamers who still prefer picking up physical copies.

The company has said that digital copies will be available via the PlayStation Store and "at retailers in digital formats only".

That leaves the possibility open for physical "code in a box" copies, although nothing has yet been confirmed. "Code in a box" games offer consumers a physical box but where you'd usually find a disc, you'll find a digital code.

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It's, very controversially, the release method that GTA VI has opted for. It's not exactly a popular release method as it renders the physical box pointless if there's no disc beyond having something to display on your shelf.

READ MORE: GTA 6 Pre-Orders Boycotted By Major Retailers Amid Disc Controversy

Given that this change comes into effect in early 2028, it's very likely that we won't be seeing a new-gen console until then with the PS6 now looking like a digital-only console. If Sony was to launch a disc drive, it would likely be available to buy separately and would only apply to previous-gen or third-party games.

PlayStation's Full Statement On The End of Physical Media

"As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. This transition has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format," a post read on the PlayStation blog.

"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. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.

"We’ll continue to prioritise our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store. We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans and we thank you for your continued support."

Digital Media Is Bad News For Consumers

What you may not know is that when you buy a digital copy of the game, you don't own it in the same way that you do when all the required software is featured on a disc.

Purchasing a digital copy typically only offers you temporary usage of a piece of software with those conditions being stipulated in terms and conditions most consumers never read.

That's why games can be taken offline and revoked from consumers' libraries without refund or compensation. In fact, just the other day, PlayStation removed over 500 films from its console film hosting service with users having media that they'd paid for permanently removed from their libraries. They are not currently due to receive any compensation.

A digital-only future is terrible for game preservation and consumer rights.

READ MORE: PS5 Users Report Purchased Content Permanently Revoked Without Refund

Think back to the early days of PlayStation. Many gamers will, at some point, likely have found their old PS1 in the attic accompanied by all of their old games. All you need to do is plug the console in, dust it off, insert the discs, and you can enjoy a blast from the past.

Now imagine that all of your games were digital. You find and plug in the console. The console's software is no longer supported. You can't log in and access any of the games you paid for.

That's what awaits in gaming's future. Digital games may not seem like all that big of a deal now but one day, this will be looked back on as a tragic turning point for game preservation.