Sony has announced that new PlayStation games released from January 2028 will be available only in digital format, marking the end of physical game discs for both first-party and third-party titles.
The company said the decision reflects changing consumer preferences, noting that demand for digital downloads has significantly outpaced purchases of physical media.
The move is expected to accelerate the gaming industry’s shift away from physical formats, following similar transitions in the film, television and music industries.
According to Sony, nearly 80% of full-game purchases for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 over the past year were made digitally.
While physical discs will be phased out, Sony said games will continue to be sold through retail stores, although it has not yet clarified whether they will be offered as boxed download codes, redemption cards or another format. Digital purchases will remain available through the PlayStation Store.