When Microsoft Xbox tried to kill the second-hand games market with the launch of the Xbox One, Sony’s PlayStation 4 more or less claimed that console generation. The Japanese brand didn’t have to do a thing — though it did, rather humourously. Those days are over.
Sony has announced, through official channels, that “physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028.” The company has said that “shifting trends in consumer preference” are the reason for this. Of course, it’ll also save the company a ton of money on disc production and logistics. It’s not like Sony’s live-service games focus is making them any money, so…
PlayStation’s slipped disc
The company could have timed its announcement a little better. Earlier this week, Sony illustrated exactly why a shift to digital-only products is an awful idea by removing previously purchased movies from user accounts following “licensing arrangements” changes. It’s a strong argument for keeping physical media around, at least from a consumer perspective. From a company point of view, not having a physical item that can be resold, in theory, translates to more sales for the digital storefront.
Sony said, “This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.” Whatever its reasons, Grand Theft Auto 6′s decision to skip a physical release probably influenced the decision.
Perhaps ironically, Grand Theft Auto Vice City illustrated problems with this approach back in 2012. The original Vice City is no longer digitally available due to music licensing issues. The only way to play the original title is to have an old physical disc (PC, PlayStation 2, or one of the others). Otherwise, you’re stuck with the patchwork rerelease.
It’s not like PlayStation is walking this road alone. Microsoft’s Xbox has a similar plan afoot, reportedly testing the ability to digitise existing physical games while adding them to a user account. It sounds like a better approach, but Xbox is likely to find a way to prevent a title from being digitised more than once. That would also kill off the second-hand market, something Microsoft has been keen on since the disastrous 2013 Xbox One console debut.
