Sony has clarified that some PS5 games will still be available as physical discs after January 2028, but with a significant condition. The announcement, which initially sparked concern among gamers, was detailed in an internal memo reported by Game File.
What Sony Announced
Last week, Sony revealed that starting January 2028, it will discontinue physical disc production for all new PlayStation games. The company stated: "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."
This transition does not affect games already released or those set to launch before the cutoff. However, confusion arose over whether existing games could still get new disc prints after 2028.
Internal Memo Clarifies
According to Game File, an internal memo sent to PlayStation employees and developers clarified that games released prior to January 2028 can still receive new print runs of physical discs after the deadline. This means titles like Control Resonant and Marvel's Wolverine could see new physical copies produced post-2028, even as new releases go digital-only.
Sony also assured that brick-and-mortar retail stores will still have products to sell, though it remains unclear whether these will be physical discs, boxes with download codes, or cardboard slips containing codes, similar to some GTA 6 editions.
Gamer Backlash and Petition
The decision has sparked significant backlash. Over 100,000 players have signed a "Don't Kill The Disc" petition, and many have threatened to cancel their PlayStation Plus subscriptions. The Video Game History Foundation criticized the move on BlueSky, stating: "This is unfortunate news for those of us who still prefer buying games on physical media, and it is certainly a hit to consumer rights, the resale market, and game creators whose businesses rely on the physical market."
Sony appears committed to its digital future. The disc production plant in Austria has already begun restructuring to accommodate reduced production orders.
