Sony has addressed the backlash against its decision to stop releasing new PlayStation games on physical discs from 2028, saying it understands why fans have “strong views” but will continue moving forward with the transition.
The company first announced in early July that new PlayStation titles would no longer be released on discs starting in 2028, prompting criticism from players who prefer physical media.
Speaking during Sony’s latest earnings call on July 31, chief financial officer Lin Tao said the decision was driven by the continued growth of digital distribution across the entertainment industry.
Sony says it understands concerns over physical games
“There are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that the digitalization of content overall has been progressing,” Tao said (via translator).
“It’s not just for PlayStation, but for all kinds of content, digitalization is progressing.
“When we think about the future, we put in a lot of thought and time, and we cautiously considered this. And we came to this conclusion, and we’re going to cautiously move this forward,” she explained.
Sony“To this decision, we have received various opinions, and people have strong views, and we understand that the community has put forth those views to us.”
She added that Sony recognizes the emotional connection many players have with physical games.
“Games are loved by many people. It’s a form of entertainment that’s loved by people, and it’s connected to people’s fond memories in many cases.”
The executive also addressed questions about how the move away from discs could affect retailers and whether PlayStation hardware would remain distinct from gaming PCs.
According to Tao, publishers will still be able to sell boxed products containing digital download codes in some regions, while Sony believes PlayStation consoles will continue to stand out through curated content, a stable gaming environment, and a lower price point than high-end gaming PCs.
“Compared to the high-end gaming PC, our product is more affordable. So we don’t feel that the disc itself is a strong factor for differentiation. Going forward, we can coexist peacefully with PC games.”
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
