New Playstation games to be digital only from January 2028
Discussion
Sony is ending production of physical playstation discs from 1st January 2028, new games will be released digital only.
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-d...
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/physical-d...
Terrible for consumers, especially coming days after they announced they were removing hundreds of films that people had paid for
https://www.ign.com/articles/sony-to-delete-movies...
At least on PC you have a choice, on PS it's pay their prices or go without.
https://www.ign.com/articles/sony-to-delete-movies...
At least on PC you have a choice, on PS it's pay their prices or go without.
Like a lot of people I bought a disc version of the launch PS5 when it came out because it was backwards compatible with old PS4 games.
Whilst I appreciate that equivalent media like DVDs have gone digital and this is likely a response to sales trends, I hope they still include a disc option when machines like mine finally give up working.
Whilst I appreciate that equivalent media like DVDs have gone digital and this is likely a response to sales trends, I hope they still include a disc option when machines like mine finally give up working.
I reckon this is a huge own goal from Sony. The mistakes Xbox is making at the moment all Sony has to do is keep on producing decent machines that people want. Physical media is dying, we all know it, it's dead everywhere else (aside from enthusiast level music/photography) but I think it's too early to say that's your lot and not be perceived as the bad guy. Another generation on having stayed that disc versions of machines accounted for such a small percentage it isn't viable to make them anymore would have been the right move imo.
In related news for PS3 and PS Vita, they're starting to close in some territories in just a few months with the remainder worldwide closing those online stores next year:
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-...
I'm not sure how much of an impact this is going to have on the emulation scene as some of the emulators rely on downloading updates for games from online. It's not clear whether these repositories will be closed at the same time and where this leaves retro gaming. I've got a stack of discs here like GT5 which will presumably lose access to install the spec 2.0 update amongst other things.
https://blog.playstation.com/2026/07/01/an-update-...
I'm not sure how much of an impact this is going to have on the emulation scene as some of the emulators rely on downloading updates for games from online. It's not clear whether these repositories will be closed at the same time and where this leaves retro gaming. I've got a stack of discs here like GT5 which will presumably lose access to install the spec 2.0 update amongst other things.
its bad for so many reasons
- games always tend to be more expensive on the PS store, we all know this
- older games will get heavily discounted from retailers. Rarely happens on the PS store.
- its skewed because many kids probably bought/gifted digital only versions of the PS5
- a game could get pulled from the store at any time and you'll never be able to buy or play it. Just like how sony are closing down the store for PS3 games... lost in time forever
The only game i ever bought off the store was Streets of Rage 4, as it never had a physical copy. Everyone of my games has been physical.
and not forgetting the obvious one... they could take the game away from you anytime you want.
- games always tend to be more expensive on the PS store, we all know this
- older games will get heavily discounted from retailers. Rarely happens on the PS store.
- its skewed because many kids probably bought/gifted digital only versions of the PS5
- a game could get pulled from the store at any time and you'll never be able to buy or play it. Just like how sony are closing down the store for PS3 games... lost in time forever
The only game i ever bought off the store was Streets of Rage 4, as it never had a physical copy. Everyone of my games has been physical.
and not forgetting the obvious one... they could take the game away from you anytime you want.
Edited by ambuletz on Wednesday 1st July 23:11
I always buy physical where possible, Resident Evil for example I have a copy of every game on the shelf going all the way back to the 1996 original. The fact Veronica will be the last time I will ever be able to do this is genuinely sad. Not to mention how bad Sony's store is, with limited sales and no refunds, so just imagine how much worse it will be when they have a complete monopoly.
Still, if buying a game doesn't mean you own it, and they can take it from you at any time for any reason they see fit, then is piracy stealing?
Still, if buying a game doesn't mean you own it, and they can take it from you at any time for any reason they see fit, then is piracy stealing?
Remember that poster on here that lost his entire Microsoft account, including all his Xbox digital content?
Digital only is a huge mistake if you spend £1000’s and never own any physical media and can have it revoked due to a ‘licensing issue’ or because they don’t like what you have uploaded to the cloud.
Digital only is a huge mistake if you spend £1000’s and never own any physical media and can have it revoked due to a ‘licensing issue’ or because they don’t like what you have uploaded to the cloud.
Very clever if you want to make as much money as possible, but very sad for shops on the high street that will close within a few years, utterly ruthless from a s
t company that also expects you to pay to be allowed to play your games with friends online, in effect a tax purely for profits
I don't use consoles anymore because of this and I certainlywont be buying a newer one or ANY other products from this greedy, ruthless crap company
t company that also expects you to pay to be allowed to play your games with friends online, in effect a tax purely for profits I don't use consoles anymore because of this and I certainlywont be buying a newer one or ANY other products from this greedy, ruthless crap company
I do dislike buying physical games because it seems a waste of plastic to have laying around.
But
The physical games are normally always cheaper than the playstation store, especially after the game has been out for a while.
That should never be the case as digital doesn't have the associated manufacturing and distribution costs of physical media.
But
The physical games are normally always cheaper than the playstation store, especially after the game has been out for a while.
That should never be the case as digital doesn't have the associated manufacturing and distribution costs of physical media.
Its not a massive surprise really, the scene was set when they released the no disc drive PS5.
Note that this comes a day or two after they removed 500 movie titles from playstation accounts, movies that people had paid for.
They already have several ongoing legal actions against them for the PS Store being a monopoly.
It does open up the question of digital property, how can you purchase something that a company then reserve the right to remove from you with no compensation ? My guess that situation will have to change in future.
My guess is that they'll have to make it in to a subscription where extra purchase is not required or laws will (eventually) get changed to protect digital property.
A spotify/netflix type subscription is (probably) a difficult plan financially for them, basic PS Plus is £60, lets say the average owner buys 4 games a year, that means a £340 subscription just to stand still, casuals and even some frequent players aren't going to pay ~£30 a month.
That throws them in to the bucket with Apple, Steam and others that allow you to buy digital copies of media but give you no rights - lost account ? too bad. get banned ? too bad, we decide to remove those items ? too bad. IMHO the only way that changes is if the EU start making laws about it, I don't think anyone else will.
I've seen lots of comments along the lines of "I'll just get a pc then.." - I can only think that Sony are egotistical enough to think their product and exclusives will drag people back.
Note that this comes a day or two after they removed 500 movie titles from playstation accounts, movies that people had paid for.
They already have several ongoing legal actions against them for the PS Store being a monopoly.
It does open up the question of digital property, how can you purchase something that a company then reserve the right to remove from you with no compensation ? My guess that situation will have to change in future.
My guess is that they'll have to make it in to a subscription where extra purchase is not required or laws will (eventually) get changed to protect digital property.
A spotify/netflix type subscription is (probably) a difficult plan financially for them, basic PS Plus is £60, lets say the average owner buys 4 games a year, that means a £340 subscription just to stand still, casuals and even some frequent players aren't going to pay ~£30 a month.
That throws them in to the bucket with Apple, Steam and others that allow you to buy digital copies of media but give you no rights - lost account ? too bad. get banned ? too bad, we decide to remove those items ? too bad. IMHO the only way that changes is if the EU start making laws about it, I don't think anyone else will.
I've seen lots of comments along the lines of "I'll just get a pc then.." - I can only think that Sony are egotistical enough to think their product and exclusives will drag people back.
Edited by Crafty_ on Thursday 2nd July 10:41
wildoliver said:
I reckon this is a huge own goal from Sony. The mistakes Xbox is making at the moment all Sony has to do is keep on producing decent machines that people want. Physical media is dying, we all know it, it's dead everywhere else (aside from enthusiast level music/photography) but I think it's too early to say that's your lot and not be perceived as the bad guy. Another generation on having stayed that disc versions of machines accounted for such a small percentage it isn't viable to make them anymore would have been the right move imo.
What mistakes are Xbox making?I wonder if it will actually affect them enough to make a change. Ubisoft has struggled with several severe missteps leading to large losses.
Although one person doesn't matter if it's going to be digital only then there is no point in me buying any more consoles or games and currently I've only got 1 for the PS5 - GT7.
I don't like the perceived lack of control, the classic GTA's have their songs stripped out whereas on PC I can mod them back in so while I'm aware the same could happen to my Steam library I feel better 'owning' them there. The same has happened for me with GTA6, as there's no disc version I may aswell just wait for the PC version.
Although one person doesn't matter if it's going to be digital only then there is no point in me buying any more consoles or games and currently I've only got 1 for the PS5 - GT7.
I don't like the perceived lack of control, the classic GTA's have their songs stripped out whereas on PC I can mod them back in so while I'm aware the same could happen to my Steam library I feel better 'owning' them there. The same has happened for me with GTA6, as there's no disc version I may aswell just wait for the PC version.
phil-sti said:
wildoliver said:
I reckon this is a huge own goal from Sony. The mistakes Xbox is making at the moment all Sony has to do is keep on producing decent machines that people want. Physical media is dying, we all know it, it's dead everywhere else (aside from enthusiast level music/photography) but I think it's too early to say that's your lot and not be perceived as the bad guy. Another generation on having stayed that disc versions of machines accounted for such a small percentage it isn't viable to make them anymore would have been the right move imo.
What mistakes are Xbox making?Gassing Station | Video Games | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff