In 2023, Sony deleted hundreds of Discovery’s content from PlayStation Network. Last month, they announced that they’d be deleting more than 550 Studio Canal movies. Now they’re ending physical PlayStation discs. Beginning in January 2028, Sony will no longer sell disc versions of their games. People will only be able to buy digital versions of games. Needless to say, many are not happy about this policy. Here’s more from IGN:
Sony has announced physical disc production ends in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles.
It’s a shock announcement that follows Rockstar’s decision not to sell a physical disc version of GTA 6, which is expected to dominate console game sales from this November onwards. This new policy will cover all games released on PlayStation consoles from all publishers after this cut-off date, which some analysts believe hints at when the PS6 will be released.
“In response to shifting trends in consumer preference, new games will be released on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only,” Sid Shuman, Senior Director, Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, said in a post on PlayStation Blog.
“As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. This transition has no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format.
“This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”
This is a terrible call on Sony’s part and there will be backlash. People are not going to like being forced to buy a product that can be taken away at any time. Constant platform decay has eroded consumer trust in big tech. We’re already seeing the start of an Analog Renaissance among people seeking out retro technology like DVDs and digital cameras because of technology fatigue. That’s only going to grow, especially as more people turn on AI.
One company seeing the writing on the wall is Commodore, who just announced the Callback 8020, a flip phone with no social media or browser capability. I’d love it if Apple brought back old-school iPods that don’t connect to the internet. My husband was frustrated with the instability of digital media, so he started switching back to physical media last year. He frequently visits a local record store and said it’s always busy. I wonder how long it’ll be until the bigger companies catch up with what consumers actually want.
Photos credit: CFOTO/Avalon, Matheus Bertelli on Pexels, Amanz on Unsplash
If I were a PlayStation player, I’d be done with them. I want to own the things I buy and you don’t truly own digital content.
You will own nothing unless we fight back and continue buying physical media and ditching companies that have you pay to use your key.
Ridiculous decision that will hurt them long term. Like the saying goes: “if buying is no longer owning, then piracy is no longer wrong.”
Buy physical copies of everything you can. Buying digital media in any form is a con. The user agreements clearly state the content is licensed and not yours. The user agreements give big tech the power to do anything they want with items you thought were yours. I have had digital movies, audiobooks, books and games I bought randomly disappear. I hope the players understand the ramifications and quit playing Play Station. Years ago I was absolutely hooked on Angry Birds. (Those games were technically free, but good lort, the number of ads cost my time and made Rovio $$$$.) Several specific versions I liked and played to completion were completely deleted from my devices without my knowledge or consent. The older versions of the original Angry Birds were so much more enjoyable than the modern versions. I quit playing altogether because the modern versions are just such a hastle with ads and way over-complicated. The Play Station Players may completely love a specific game, but a couple updates can totally change a game and make it horrible. You cannot go back to the version you liked if you do not own a physical copy.