Sony confirmed that new PlayStation games will be sold only as digital downloads beginning January 2028, ending the production of physical discs. After that date, consumers will have to purchase titles through the PlayStation Store or other online retailers, with no new disc releases.
The move reflects a sharp shift in buying habits; last year physical game sales represented just three percent of PlayStation’s revenue, and the PS5 Pro launched in 2024 without a disc drive. Sony cites the growing dominance of digital sales as the primary driver, echoing similar strategies from Xbox and Nintendo, and following Rockstar’s decision to drop discs for GTA 6.
Existing disc titles and any games slated for release before the 2028 cutoff will remain available, but the decision threatens the second‑hand market and could hurt brick‑and‑mortar retailers. In the same announcement, Sony said it will shut down the PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita, with closures starting as early as August 2026 and a U.S. deadline of July 2027, while still allowing prior purchases to be redownloaded.
