All articles tagged with #discs
Sony is ending PS5 physical-disc production, effectively shifting games toward digital distribution and streaming; industry sources say the disc-making process is a trade secret and costs roughly 15% of a game’s MSRP, with Sony tightly controlling the production pipeline, making a DIY homebrew scene unlikely as the industry moves further into digital ownership.
During its earnings call, Sony CFO Lin Tao said the PS5 is more affordable than high-end gaming PCs and that physical discs aren’t the key differentiator from PC games. Sony reiterated it will not reverse its plan to end production of PlayStation disc games by 2028, arguing the console’s curated content and stable environment matter more, and that PS and PC gaming can coexist.
Sony will stop producing PlayStation game discs by January 2028, citing digitalization and saying the move should not hurt profits; despite backlash from players, the company argues discs don’t differentiate PlayStation from PC gaming and plans to repurpose its disc factory for optical microlenses while continuing a curated, affordable ecosystem as digital storefronts grow.
Circana’s US market data show physical game sales have collapsed from a 2009 peak of 297 million units to just 37 million in the last year, helping explain Sony’s plan to stop selling physical discs in 2028. The analysis notes only a handful of PS games sold in physical recently (top title around 275,000 units so far this year) and a growing share of hardware sold as digital-only (about 27% of PS5 and 52% of Xbox Series sales), signaling a market-wide shift toward digital downloads that aligns with Sony’s disc-free strategy.
Mexican lawmakers plan to file with the National Antitrust Commission against Sony for ending PlayStation disc manufacturing by January 2028, arguing the move could reduce competition, squeeze retailers and the second-hand market, and force consumers to rely on Sony’s digital store; they cite the company’s past content removals as an example of potential monopolistic risk, and note the digital-only path could disadvantage consumers with limited broadband. A petition opposing the shift has gathered nearly 310,000 signatures.
Sony will stop producing physical disc releases of its games starting in 2028. Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden calls the decision dramatic and, as a fan, “sad,” noting there’s likely significant financial analysis behind it. Kojima and physical-game collectors have also expressed sorrow. On the upside, Santa Monica says a physical God of War Laufey release will arrive before the 2028 cutoff.
Sony plans to end PlayStation game discs production in 2028, sparking gamer protests. Analysts say the protests are unlikely to reverse the decision since digital is highly lucrative. Separately, Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki sold about 56.5% of his shares after the announcement, fueling speculation that backlash might pressure the company's long-term strategy.
Sony is repurposing its final PlayStation disc plant in Thalgau, Austria, retraining 300 workers to manufacture optical microlenses as disc production winds down; mass microlens production could begin as early as next year with a €30 million investment, and Sony is eyeing automotive and other optical applications.