Sony will cease production of discs for new PlayStation games in 2028
Sony has announced it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in 2028, as part of a broader shift toward digital distribution. The company also plans to close the PlayStation 3 and PS Vita digital storefronts, signaling the end of an era for physical media on its platforms.
Background
Sony plans to stop producing physical game discs (on Blu-ray and other formats) for new PlayStation releases starting in 2028. This does not mean existing discs stop working or that all games vanish from stores immediately — but it signals the end of a generation-long shift away from physical media in gaming. The announcement comes alongside news that Sony will also permanently close digital storefronts for the PlayStation 3, PlayStation Vita, and PSP, cutting off access to thousands of older digital-only games and DLC that are no longer sold or playable on current hardware. Sony is the dominant player in the console market alongside Nintendo and Microsoft. The move is controversial because it forces players to rely entirely on digital downloads and subscriptions, over which publishers have total control — games can be delisted, servers shut down, and purchases rendered inaccessible. The broader context: game preservation advocates have warned for years that the industry's pivot to digital is eroding ownership and making older games increasingly unplayable or lost entirely.