Report: Sony Surveys Developers on PlayStation Discs

Sony plans to stop producing physical discs for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028. After that, new games will be available through PlayStation Store and retailers in digital formats only. Sony says games released, or set to release, in disc format before January 2028 will not be affected. Retail stores remain a place to buy new games; the format is what changes. Sony’s announcement says the shift reflects consumer preference for digital media and is intended to better match how most of its community accesses and plays games.

GamesIndustry.biz reports that Sony is now surveying developers about the decision. The account comes from Tom, host of the Moore’s Law Is Dead channel, who said contacts described the survey as larger than almost any Sony had sent before, perhaps the largest. Tom also said it included an indirect question seeking feedback on physical game sales or ending discs. Those details remain secondhand, rather than confirmation from Sony. If accurate, the survey suggests the company is seeking developer feedback on a policy it has already announced, not asking whether the January 2028 change will happen.

A separate report, cited by GamesIndustry.biz, put digital purchases at 80 percent of games bought on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in the last financial year. That figure is also reported, not an official Sony number in the material available here. The shift has drawn objections from physical-edition specialists and publishers: Iam8bit said it was “profoundly disappointed,” Lost in Cult “deeply saddened,” and PM Studios’ Michael Yum called it “sad and devastating.” Sony says players will retain a choice of retailer or PlayStation Store, but after the cutoff that choice will no longer include a new disc copy.