Sony will stop producing physical discs for all new games released on PlayStation consoles from January 2028, marking a full shift to digital distribution. Digital downloads accounted for about 80% of Sony's full-game software sales in fiscal 2025. New PlayStation titles released from January 2028 will be sold through the PlayStation Store and by retailers in digital formats only, though the change will not apply to games released or already scheduled for disc release before that date. Separately, Sony will begin shutting down the PlayStation Store on its legacy PS3 and PS Vita devices, starting with select markets this year and expanding globally in 2027, as the older consoles can no longer support the secure payment systems used by the modern PlayStation Network. Once the stores close, users will no longer be able to purchase new content, but previously purchased games and content will remain available for download for the foreseeable future.
Sony Group CorporationSony's shift to digital-only for new PlayStation games from 2028 is a strategic move, but impact is ambiguous as it may reduce costs but also alienate physical-disc buyers.