Sony has officially confirmed that it will stop manufacturing physical PlayStation discs starting in January 2028. The shift to a digital-only model for future releases, both from Sony Interactive Entertainment and third-party publishers, marks a major change for the platform, effectively ending the ability for players to purchase, share, or trade physical game discs.
The Cost of Going Digital-Only
The move has raised significant concerns regarding the future of game pricing. A report from Dutch website Tweakers analyzed historical price data for 16 first and third-party PS5 games, comparing retail prices with those on the PlayStation Store between July 2022 and the present day. The findings suggest that players who prefer physical media are currently benefiting from lower costs.
According to the data, retail prices for games tend to fluctuate and drop over time, whereas prices on the PlayStation Store often remain at their full launch value unless included in specific promotions. Even when the digital store runs a sale, prices typically return to their original levels afterward. The report noted that first-party PlayStation exclusives are rarely cheaper on the digital store than their physical counterparts, with only Horizon Forbidden West seeing a permanent base price reduction from €80 to €60 within the survey group.
“If you buy a PS5 game now, statistically speaking, the physical version is most likely to cost less,” the report stated. Furthermore, while retailers will still be permitted to sell digital vouchers or code-in-a-box products, the end of physical discs eliminates the second-hand market entirely.
Industry and Player Reaction
The announcement has been met with widespread pushback. A petition urging Sony to reverse the decision has garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures. Additionally, Sony’s social media channels and its 2013 anti-DRM video have seen millions of comments from users lamenting the loss of physical media ownership.
Experts suggest that retail competition is a key factor in current pricing, and its removal will grant Sony total control over the digital marketplace. Calculations by Bloomberg reporter Jason Schreier indicate that Sony stands to gain significantly more revenue per game sale in a digital-only ecosystem—up to 54 percent on first-party titles and 40 percent on third-party games. This shift also opens the door for practices like dynamic pricing, which could further obscure the actual value of games for consumers.
Fallout TV Series Continues Emmy Momentum
In other news, Amazon’s live-action Fallout adaptation has secured nine nominations for the upcoming Emmy Awards for its second season. While this is lower than the 16 nominations received for the first season, it remains a notable showing for the series.
The season two nominations include categories such as Outstanding Sound Editing, Outstanding Fantasy/Sci-Fi Costumes, and Outstanding Stunt Performance. Despite reports of a "sophomore slump" in viewership, Amazon has labeled the second season as Prime Video's sixth biggest season of all time and its second-largest returning series.