Sony PlayStation has just made one of the biggest business decisions in its 30 year history. On July 1, 2026, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that all new games launching on Sony PlayStation consoles from January 2028 onward will be digital only, marking the end of a physical media era that began with the first PlayStation in 1994.
The story got more complicated 48 hours later. A private note to publishers and game developers, first reported by Game File and subsequently covered across the trade press, softened the announcement in ways that fans should understand before writing the disc's obituary. Here's the full picture, drawing on the official PlayStation Blog post, the developer memo clarification, and Bloomberg's opinion analysis.
The initial press release came directly from Sid Shuman, Senior Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications. The core points are simple. New PlayStation games releasing on Sony PlayStation consoles from January 2028 onward will be sold digitally only, on PlayStation Store and at retailers using download codes. Existing games released before that release date are unaffected and will continue to be available on physical media.
Sony framed the decision as a response to consumer trends, arguing that most of the PlayStation community already prefers digital download over physical purchase. Per a Forbes analysis of Sony's 2025 financial disclosures, physical software made up just 3 percent of Sony PlayStation's revenue in North America in 2024. That is a business reality no publisher can easily ignore, and one that former SIE CEO Jim Ryan repeatedly telegraphed during his tenure before retiring in 2024.
Two days later, Sony sent a private memo to publisher partners through its developer portal. That memo, reported by Game File and covered by VGC, Push Square, and Insider Gaming, materially softens the initial announcement.
Yes, but only for older titles. Publishers and game developers will still be able to place re-orders for existing PlayStation disc games after January 2028, meaning any game released in 2027 or earlier can continue to have physical copies pressed for years to come. Sony's Austrian manufacturing facility, Sony DADC in Thalgau, is retraining staff for a reduced production line rather than shutting down entirely. The exact ordering process for these existing-title reprints will change in ways Sony has not yet detailed, and that remains the most significant unknown.
This is the biggest quiet shift. Sony told partners that it will offer publishers the option to release new games at retail using digital codes, meaning the box-on-a-shelf model survives, just without the disc inside. Rockstar Games has already used this approach for the physical version of Grand Theft Auto VI, and it looks likely to become the default for the PS6 generation. The retail experience of walking into a shop and buying a game continues. What changes is what is actually inside the box.
Bloomberg columnist Gearoid Reidy called the move "hitting eject on the era of owning games," and the framing has stuck. The concerns are real and worth taking seriously.
Without a disc, there is no lending a game to a friend, no reselling on the secondhand market, and no guarantee that a game will still be playable if a publisher pulls the digital license. Every future digital download runs through the PlayStation Network, meaning access depends on account status rather than possession of a disc. PlayStation Plus, which absorbed the old PlayStation Now streaming service in 2022, becomes an even more central subscription in this future, since a lapsed account effectively locks you out of your library in edge cases.
Sony itself has form here. In 2023 the company removed previously purchased Discovery movies from customer libraries on the Sony Core store without refund, a precedent PlayStation fans have not forgotten. Political attention has followed. In France, veteran politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon publicly criticized the move, arguing that games are cultural assets deserving legal protections against revocable digital licenses. Legendary game designer Hideo Kojima also expressed sadness about the news, saying he was frightened for the future of ownership.
The Sony PlayStation brand has been a cornerstone of gaming since Ken Kutaragi's team shipped the original model of the first PlayStation in December 1994. Every subsequent generation has expanded on that foundation. The PlayStation 3 ushered in Blu-ray and the Cell architecture. The PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita gave the brand two ambitious handheld generations, and the PS Vita is still remembered fondly as an underappreciated cult favourite.
The PS4 era brought both the streamlined PS4 Slim and the mid-generation PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro), which introduced 4K support and pushed the form factor conversation forward. The current PS5 generation, unveiled at Sony's landmark June 2020 press conference, has since spawned the PS5 Slim and, most recently, the PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro), engineered by longtime Sony hardware architect Mark Cerny. Each hardware revision of the PlayStation has arrived alongside stiff competition from rival game consoles, most notably Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Nintendo's Nintendo Switch. What makes the January 2028 announcement historically distinct is that, unlike every previous form factor change, this one is not really about the hardware at all.
The DualSense controller, introduced with the PS5 in 2020, remains one of the most praised new controllers in gaming history. Its adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, integrated light bar, redesigned share button, and central PS button (also known as the PlayStation button) collectively delivered the biggest generational leap since the original PlayStation's analog sticks debuted on the DualShock.
The premium DualSense Edge, launched in 2023, extends that with customizable back paddles and swappable analog sticks. Beyond the pad, the Sony PlayStation accessory ecosystem also includes PlayStation VR (now in its PS VR2 generation), the older PlayStation Move motion wands, and utility items like the vertical stand and the DualSense charging station. Remote Play, meanwhile, lets PS5 owners stream their library to phones, PCs, and the newer PlayStation Portal handheld. None of this changes in 2028. The disc drive going away does not change the fundamental Sony PlayStation gaming experience at all.
Every future PlayStation game released after January 2028 will be a digital edition by default. That includes upcoming PlayStation Studios flagships across the God of War, Marvel's Wolverine, and Ghost of Yotei pipelines, as well as third-party heavyweights like Call of Duty and Resident Evil that historically leaned on physical sales at launch.
Whether the digital-only shift also unlocks new features is an open question. The current PS5 Pro already delivers hardware ray tracing, higher frame rates, and Sony's PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaler for a noticeably sharper gaming experience over the base PS5. The PS6, whenever it lands, is expected to push those capabilities further. What the digital transition changes is not the visual fidelity, but the underlying commercial contract. Every digital download flows through the PlayStation Network, and every purchase is a licence rather than a possession.
Sony has not yet officially confirmed the release date for the PS6, but every industry indicator points to a disc-free next-generation Sony PlayStation console. With physical production wound down and the developer memo pushing digital-code retail as the new default, a discless PS6 is the logical conclusion of this announcement. Fans hoping for a "PS6 with disc drive" companion SKU, similar to the current PS5 and PS5 Slim options, may have to accept that this generation is the last one to include the option at all.
Mark Cerny is again widely expected to lead PS6 hardware architecture, building on the PS5 Pro's foundation with next-generation ray tracing, faster frame rates, and an evolved PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution pipeline. When Sony finally holds its PS6 reveal press conference, expect the new console to be pitched as the first fully digital PlayStation from day one.
For collectors, the practical advice is straightforward. Games released between now and December 2027 will remain the last true physical Sony PlayStation library, and reprint supply of those titles is expected to persist through the early PS6 years. If you value physical ownership, that 18 month window is when to buy.
Everything else about the platform continues as-is. Rest Mode still lets you suspend and resume games instantly. Voice commands via the DualSense mic and voice chat with parties both continue working. TV speakers passthrough via HDMI is unchanged. The console's internal storage and expandable hard drive support remain the same, as does typical power consumption. Remote Play still works exactly as it does today. The digital transition is strictly about how PlayStation games are sold and delivered, not about the underlying platform.
The latest Sony PlayStation consoles available in 2026 are the PS5, PS5 Slim, and PlayStation 5 Pro. Main features include hardware ray tracing, 4K graphics, high frame rates, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaling on the PS5 Pro, and the DualSense controller with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.
You can purchase official Sony PlayStation consoles and controllers directly from PlayStation Direct on the PlayStation website, or from authorised retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and Target in North America. In Europe, official channels include Currys, Argos, Media Markt, and Fnac.
You can buy games from the official PlayStation Store online by signing in with your PlayStation Network account on your PS5, through the PlayStation website in any browser, or via the PlayStation App on iOS and Android. Payment options include credit card, PayPal, and PlayStation Store gift cards.
To set up a new PlayStation console for the first time, connect it to your TV via HDMI, plug in the power cable, pair the DualSense controller by pressing the PS button, follow the on-screen prompts, sign in to your PlayStation Network account, and download system updates.
The PlayStation console best for gaming in 2024 is the PS5 Pro, launched in November 2024, which offers advanced ray tracing, higher frame rates, and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaling. For most players, the standard PS5 or PS5 Slim remains an excellent value option at a lower price.
To create or manage your account on PlayStation Network, visit the official PlayStation account portal at Sony's website, or open the PS5 Settings menu, select Users and Accounts, then Sign In. From there you can update payment methods, manage subscriptions like PlayStation Plus, and control privacy.
You can find updates and news about Sony PlayStation releases on the official PlayStation Blog, the PlayStation Store news tab, and Sony's official social media channels. Third-party outlets like IGN, Push Square, VGC, and Kotaku also provide regular coverage of new games, hardware, and PlayStation Plus lineups.
The exclusive games available only on PlayStation consoles are developed primarily by PlayStation Studios and include the God of War series, The Last of Us, Marvel's Spider-Man, Horizon Forbidden West, Ghost of Tsushima, Gran Turismo 7, Returnal, Astro Bot, and the upcoming Ghost of Yotei and Marvel's Wolverine.
The Sony PlayStation era of the game disc is not quite over. But the countdown has officially started.
Emerson Gray · Editor
Editor
Sony PlayStation has just made one of the biggest business decisions in its 30 year history. On July 1, 2026, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that all new games launching on Sony PlayStation consoles from January 2028 onward will be digital only, marking the end of a physical media era that began with the first PlayStation in 1994.
The story got more complicated 48 hours later. A private note to publishers and game developers, first reported by Game File and subsequently covered across the trade press, softened the announcement in ways that fans should understand before writing the disc's obituary. Here's the full picture, drawing on the official PlayStation Blog post, the developer memo clarification, and Bloomberg's opinion analysis.
The initial press release came directly from Sid Shuman, Senior Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications. The core points are simple. New PlayStation games releasing on Sony PlayStation consoles from January 2028 onward will be sold digitally only, on PlayStation Store and at retailers using download codes. Existing games released before that release date are unaffected and will continue to be available on physical media.
Sony framed the decision as a response to consumer trends, arguing that most of the PlayStation community already prefers digital download over physical purchase. Per a Forbes analysis of Sony's 2025 financial disclosures, physical software made up just 3 percent of Sony PlayStation's revenue in North America in 2024. That is a business reality no publisher can easily ignore, and one that former SIE CEO Jim Ryan repeatedly telegraphed during his tenure before retiring in 2024.
Two days later, Sony sent a private memo to publisher partners through its developer portal. That memo, reported by Game File and covered by VGC, Push Square, and Insider Gaming, materially softens the initial announcement.
Yes, but only for older titles. Publishers and game developers will still be able to place re-orders for existing PlayStation disc games after January 2028, meaning any game released in 2027 or earlier can continue to have physical copies pressed for years to come. Sony's Austrian manufacturing facility, Sony DADC in Thalgau, is retraining staff for a reduced production line rather than shutting down entirely. The exact ordering process for these existing-title reprints will change in ways Sony has not yet detailed, and that remains the most significant unknown.
This is the biggest quiet shift. Sony told partners that it will offer publishers the option to release new games at retail using digital codes, meaning the box-on-a-shelf model survives, just without the disc inside. Rockstar Games has already used this approach for the physical version of Grand Theft Auto VI, and it looks likely to become the default for the PS6 generation. The retail experience of walking into a shop and buying a game continues. What changes is what is actually inside the box.
Bloomberg columnist Gearoid Reidy called the move "hitting eject on the era of owning games," and the framing has stuck. The concerns are real and worth taking seriously.
Without a disc, there is no lending a game to a friend, no reselling on the secondhand market, and no guarantee that a game will still be playable if a publisher pulls the digital license. Every future digital download runs through the PlayStation Network, meaning access depends on account status rather than possession of a disc. PlayStation Plus, which absorbed the old PlayStation Now streaming service in 2022, becomes an even more central subscription in this future, since a lapsed account effectively locks you out of your library in edge cases.
Sony itself has form here. In 2023 the company removed previously purchased Discovery movies from customer libraries on the Sony Core store without refund, a precedent PlayStation fans have not forgotten. Political attention has followed. In France, veteran politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon publicly criticized the move, arguing that games are cultural assets deserving legal protections against revocable digital licenses. Legendary game designer Hideo Kojima also expressed sadness about the news, saying he was frightened for the future of ownership.
The Sony PlayStation brand has been a cornerstone of gaming since Ken Kutaragi's team shipped the original model of the first PlayStation in December 1994. Every subsequent generation has expanded on that foundation. The PlayStation 3 ushered in Blu-ray and the Cell architecture. The PlayStation Portable and PlayStation Vita gave the brand two ambitious handheld generations, and the PS Vita is still remembered fondly as an underappreciated cult favourite.
The PS4 era brought both the streamlined PS4 Slim and the mid-generation PlayStation 4 Pro (PS4 Pro), which introduced 4K support and pushed the form factor conversation forward. The current PS5 generation, unveiled at Sony's landmark June 2020 press conference, has since spawned the PS5 Slim and, most recently, the PlayStation 5 Pro (PS5 Pro), engineered by longtime Sony hardware architect Mark Cerny. Each hardware revision of the PlayStation has arrived alongside stiff competition from rival game consoles, most notably Microsoft's Xbox Series X and Nintendo's Nintendo Switch. What makes the January 2028 announcement historically distinct is that, unlike every previous form factor change, this one is not really about the hardware at all.
The DualSense controller, introduced with the PS5 in 2020, remains one of the most praised new controllers in gaming history. Its adaptive triggers, haptic feedback, integrated light bar, redesigned share button, and central PS button (also known as the PlayStation button) collectively delivered the biggest generational leap since the original PlayStation's analog sticks debuted on the DualShock.
The premium DualSense Edge, launched in 2023, extends that with customizable back paddles and swappable analog sticks. Beyond the pad, the Sony PlayStation accessory ecosystem also includes PlayStation VR (now in its PS VR2 generation), the older PlayStation Move motion wands, and utility items like the vertical stand and the DualSense charging station. Remote Play, meanwhile, lets PS5 owners stream their library to phones, PCs, and the newer PlayStation Portal handheld. None of this changes in 2028. The disc drive going away does not change the fundamental Sony PlayStation gaming experience at all.
Every future PlayStation game released after January 2028 will be a digital edition by default. That includes upcoming PlayStation Studios flagships across the God of War, Marvel's Wolverine, and Ghost of Yotei pipelines, as well as third-party heavyweights like Call of Duty and Resident Evil that historically leaned on physical sales at launch.
Whether the digital-only shift also unlocks new features is an open question. The current PS5 Pro already delivers hardware ray tracing, higher frame rates, and Sony's PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaler for a noticeably sharper gaming experience over the base PS5. The PS6, whenever it lands, is expected to push those capabilities further. What the digital transition changes is not the visual fidelity, but the underlying commercial contract. Every digital download flows through the PlayStation Network, and every purchase is a licence rather than a possession.
Sony has not yet officially confirmed the release date for the PS6, but every industry indicator points to a disc-free next-generation Sony PlayStation console. With physical production wound down and the developer memo pushing digital-code retail as the new default, a discless PS6 is the logical conclusion of this announcement. Fans hoping for a "PS6 with disc drive" companion SKU, similar to the current PS5 and PS5 Slim options, may have to accept that this generation is the last one to include the option at all.
Mark Cerny is again widely expected to lead PS6 hardware architecture, building on the PS5 Pro's foundation with next-generation ray tracing, faster frame rates, and an evolved PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution pipeline. When Sony finally holds its PS6 reveal press conference, expect the new console to be pitched as the first fully digital PlayStation from day one.
For collectors, the practical advice is straightforward. Games released between now and December 2027 will remain the last true physical Sony PlayStation library, and reprint supply of those titles is expected to persist through the early PS6 years. If you value physical ownership, that 18 month window is when to buy.
Everything else about the platform continues as-is. Rest Mode still lets you suspend and resume games instantly. Voice commands via the DualSense mic and voice chat with parties both continue working. TV speakers passthrough via HDMI is unchanged. The console's internal storage and expandable hard drive support remain the same, as does typical power consumption. Remote Play still works exactly as it does today. The digital transition is strictly about how PlayStation games are sold and delivered, not about the underlying platform.
The latest Sony PlayStation consoles available in 2026 are the PS5, PS5 Slim, and PlayStation 5 Pro. Main features include hardware ray tracing, 4K graphics, high frame rates, PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaling on the PS5 Pro, and the DualSense controller with adaptive triggers and haptic feedback.
You can purchase official Sony PlayStation consoles and controllers directly from PlayStation Direct on the PlayStation website, or from authorised retailers including Amazon, Best Buy, GameStop, Walmart, and Target in North America. In Europe, official channels include Currys, Argos, Media Markt, and Fnac.
You can buy games from the official PlayStation Store online by signing in with your PlayStation Network account on your PS5, through the PlayStation website in any browser, or via the PlayStation App on iOS and Android. Payment options include credit card, PayPal, and PlayStation Store gift cards.
To set up a new PlayStation console for the first time, connect it to your TV via HDMI, plug in the power cable, pair the DualSense controller by pressing the PS button, follow the on-screen prompts, sign in to your PlayStation Network account, and download system updates.
The PlayStation console best for gaming in 2024 is the PS5 Pro, launched in November 2024, which offers advanced ray tracing, higher frame rates, and PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution upscaling. For most players, the standard PS5 or PS5 Slim remains an excellent value option at a lower price.
To create or manage your account on PlayStation Network, visit the official PlayStation account portal at Sony's website, or open the PS5 Settings menu, select Users and Accounts, then Sign In. From there you can update payment methods, manage subscriptions like PlayStation Plus, and control privacy.
You can find updates and news about Sony PlayStation releases on the official PlayStation Blog, the PlayStation Store news tab, and Sony's official social media channels. Third-party outlets like IGN, Push Square, VGC, and Kotaku also provide regular coverage of new games, hardware, and PlayStation Plus lineups.
The exclusive games available only on PlayStation consoles are developed primarily by PlayStation Studios and include the God of War series, The Last of Us, Marvel's Spider-Man, Horizon Forbidden West, Ghost of Tsushima, Gran Turismo 7, Returnal, Astro Bot, and the upcoming Ghost of Yotei and Marvel's Wolverine.
The Sony PlayStation era of the game disc is not quite over. But the countdown has officially started.
Emerson Gray · Editor
Editor
