After Sony revealed that it would ramp down disc production in 2028, gamers began making their voices heard. The idea was that, if they showed enough support, Sony might rethink its strategy and roll back its decision. Unfortunately for fans of physical libraries, it seems that Sony has already doubled down on its plan, as new PS5s now show a warning about going digital-only.
It’s proof that Sony isn’t backing down
As spotted by IGN, this news comes to us via @BehindTGames on X. It shows a new label on PS5 boxes that warns people not to get too comfortable with the idea of purchasing new discs:
IMPORTANT NOTICE: From Jan. 2028, newly released games on PlayStation will be available for purchase on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital format only. Discs for games released before Jan. 2028 can continue to be played on this console.
So, it seems too late for people to change Sony’s mind about physical media on the PS5. However, there’s still a lot of power in people opting out of purchasing Sony’s products in response to this change. At the very least, doing so would signal to other console manufacturers that physical media is important, and it may change how Sony designs the PS6.
Fortunately, while Sony seems to be winding down physical media for the PlayStation, Xbox is going in the inverse direction. If rumors about Team Green are true, they’re planning to allow people to convert their physical discs to digital licenses so people can get the best of both worlds.
