Starting January 2028, new PlayStation games will be sold only in digital format through the PlayStation Store and retailers, marking a shift away from physical media.
11:20 AM
Sony announced Wednesday that it will discontinue physical disc production for new PlayStation games beginning January 2028. From that date forward, all new releases on PlayStation consoles will be available exclusively in digital format through the PlayStation Store and at retailers.
Games already released on disc or those launching before January 2028 will remain available in physical form. The change applies to both Sony's first-party studios and third-party developers including Capcom, EA, and Ubisoft.
"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," Sony said in a statement. "This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today."
According to Sony's most recent financial results from May, approximately 80 percent of PlayStation 5 games sold are already in digital format, reflecting a broader industry shift toward digital distribution.
The announcement comes days after Rockstar Games revealed that Grand Theft Auto VI will launch in retail stores in November without a physical disc, instead containing only a digital download code.
Separately, Sony announced it is shutting down the PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita consoles. The store will close in select Latin American and Middle Eastern markets starting in August 2026, with closures in all other countries taking effect in July 2027. After the shutdown, console owners will be unable to purchase new content but can continue downloading games they have previously purchased "for the foreseeable future."
The PS3 and PS Vita are turning 20 and 15 years old respectively this year. Sony acknowledged in its announcement that the news may be disappointing to players of these legacy consoles.
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