Sony is moving forward with its plan to phase out physical PlayStation games by 2028, reassigning hundreds of workers at its disc manufacturing plant in Austria. The restructuring, described as a major shift, affects the Son DADC facility in Salzburg, where staff are being reassigned rather than laid off.
Restructuring at Austrian Disc Plant
According to local news outlet Salzburg ORF, Dietmar Tanzer, CEO of Son DADC, stated: "PlayStation currently accounts for approximately 50 percent of our volume, and of that, approximately 20 percent are new orders. We are talking about roughly ten percent of the volume in 2028." The plant's reliance on PlayStation disc production is declining sharply as digital sales dominate.
Digital Dominance in Sales
Sony's financial results reveal that 85% of PlayStation game sales in the fourth quarter of its most recent financial year were digital. This trend supports the company's decision to go all-digital, despite backlash from gamers who value physical media for ownership and resale.
The shift suggests that the upcoming PlayStation 6 may be a fully digital console, with no disc drive option. Similarly, Microsoft's Project Helix is rumored to focus on digital libraries, while Nintendo remains committed to cartridges.
Gamer Backlash and Concerns
Gamers have expressed frustration over the loss of choice, the elimination of the second-hand market, and the inability to truly own digital games. Sony's recent removal of over 500 movies from PlayStation Store libraries due to licensing expirations, with no refunds, has further fueled concerns about digital ownership.
Rockstar Games' announcement that Grand Theft Auto VI will be released only as a digital code in a box, with no physical disc planned, aligns with Sony's strategy. A physical disc release now appears unlikely.
