The Indicator from Planet Money · Wednesday, July 8, 2026
Sony plans to stop releasing new games on physical discs starting in 2028, with all new titles to be available only digitally. This move is seen as a financial decision to eliminate production costs, though it has generated frustration among gamers. Players are concerned about losing the benefits of owning a physical disc, such as the ability to lend games or retain access if a digital title is removed from a platform.
“And they say starting in 2028, they'll stop releasing new games on discs. And they'll only be available digitally.”
“So, you know, where their customers already are. That's how they prefer to buy the games. But I think it's fair to say that this also looks like a financial move by them, right?”
“And for a lot of gamers, there's value in owning a disc, you know, it provides a physical asset that you can continue to play even if Sony someday decides to take this game off of its digital platform.”