Sony to end physical PlayStation game discs from 2028 as digital downloads take centre stage

Sony will stop producing physical discs for all new games released on PlayStation consoles from January 2028, as per a Reuters report.Beginning in January 2028, all newly released PlayStation titles will be available only through digital distribution channels, including the PlayStation Store and retail partners selling digital game codes. Games that have already launched or are scheduled for physical disc releases before the deadline will continue to be available in their existing formats.According to Sony, digital downloads accounted for around 80% of its full-game software sales in fiscal 2025, underscoring changing consumer preferences and the growing role of online storefronts.The move is expected to simplify game distribution while reducing manufacturing, packaging and logistics costs associated with physical media. However, it may increase reliance on larger console storage capacities, as players will need to download entire game libraries instead of installing them from discs.Alongside the shift away from physical media, Sony announced plans to phase out the PlayStation Store on its older PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita platforms.The company said the online stores for the legacy consoles will begin closing in select markets later this year before expanding globally in 2027. Sony cited the inability of the ageing systems to support the security requirements of the modern PlayStation Network payment infrastructure.Also read: Meta brings panoramic Instagram Stories and new editing tools to AI glasses usersThe first closures will begin in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua from August 2026, followed by additional markets across Latin America and the Middle East. The PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita will shut down in all remaining regions by July 2027.After the stores are closed, users will no longer be able to purchase new games or downloadable content through those platforms. Sony said previously purchased games and digital content will remain available for download for the foreseeable future.