Sony declared on Wednesday that it will cease the production of physical discs for all new PlayStation titles beginning in January 2028, signaling a shift towards a fully digital future. Following this date, all new releases will be available for purchase digitally via the PlayStation Store and various retailers. Games released prior to this deadline will still be obtainable on disc.

Physical copies have historically been a fundamental aspect of gaming culture, making the farewell to game discs a bittersweet moment for many gamers. Nevertheless, Sony expressed that this choice reflects the current trends in how most players purchase and engage with games.

“This is a natural evolution for Sony Interactive Entertainment to respond to consumer trends as the widespread preference for digital media greatly exceeds that of physical discs. This change will allow us to align more closely with how the majority of our community chooses to access and enjoy games today,” the company stated in its announcement. 

According to Sony’s financial report for the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, digital downloads constituted 85% of full-game software sales for PS4 and PS5, while physical copies made up the remaining 15%.

The downturn of physical games is also evident in retail spaces, with stores that once depended heavily on physical discs continuing to decline as more gamers opt for online purchases. GameStop has reportedly shuttered over 1,300 locations in the last two fiscal years.

This announcement follows closely after Grand Theft Auto 6 fans expressed dissatisfaction upon discovering that the game’s “physical” edition would contain only a download code within the packaging instead of an actual game disc, underscoring that some gamers still cherish collecting physical editions.

In addition, Sony disclosed on Wednesday that it will be closing the PlayStation Store on the PlayStation 3 in selected markets later this year, and global closures of the PS3 and PlayStation Vita stores will take place next year. 

Once these stores are closed, players will no longer be able to acquire new digital content on those systems. Sony noted that previously purchased games and content will remain available for download for the foreseeable future.