Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot recently addressed the industry impact of Says Play, Station Ending Physical Discs during a company earnings call with investors. When asked for his thoughts on PlayStation ending physical game discs in January 2028, Guillemot indicated that the transition will not cause major disruption.
Quick Facts
- PlayStation plans to end physical game discs in January 2028.
- Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot stated the shift will not heavily disturb the industry.
- Physical game sales in the US have dropped from 292 million units in June 2009 to 37 million units in June 2026.
- PC gaming has operated as a digital-first platform with multiple storefronts for over a decade.
Industry Impact and Hardware Costs
During the earnings call, Guillemot pointed to PC gaming as a precedent for digital-only distribution. "What we saw on the PC is that it helped to grow the market," Guillemot said. He also noted that removing disc drives creates pressure relief on hardware manufacturing. "There's also some pressure for the future on the cost of machines, and being able to be only digital will help to have a more accessible machine, I would say. As you said, there are pluses and minuses. But we think it will not disturb, too much, the industry."
While PC gaming relies on digital storefronts within an open platform ecosystem, PlayStation consoles restrict digital purchases exclusively to Sony's PlayStation Store.
The Decline of Physical Media
Data provided by Senior Director and Video Game Industry Advisor at Circana Mat Piscatella highlights the ongoing contraction of physical media. US physical game sales peaked at 292 million units for the 12-month period ending in June 2009. That figure dropped significantly to 37 million units for the 12-month period ending in June 2026.
Other physical entertainment formats, including music and movies, have similarly transitioned into small fractions of their respective overall markets.