From Nintendo to KFC, How Brands Reacted to the PlayStation Disc Controversy
Sony says 80% of full-game sales are already digital as it prepares to sell new PlayStation titles through the PlayStation Store only.
- On June 1, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it will stop producing physical discs for all new PlayStation games beginning January 2028, shifting to digital-only distribution via the PlayStation Store and retail code formats.
- Driven by digital downloads accounting for about 80% of software revenue in fiscal 2025, Sony has begun repurposing its Salzburg, Austria, disc factory to manufacture optical microlenses instead.
- Publishers can still release games at retail using 'code in a box' formats or re-order existing disc titles, with no impact on games released or scheduled before January 2028.
- Brands including KFC, GitHub, and Respawn mocked the announcement on social media, while former PlayStation Worldwide Studios leader Shawn Layden called the decision 'fairly dramatic'.
- Game developer Hideo Kojima warned that digital-only distribution could mean users lose access to purchased content, as Sony simultaneously shutters legacy PS3 and PS Vita stores by July 2027.
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The backlash against Sony ditching PlayStation discs is not letting up
Sony said it's moving to digital-only games.Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesSony's decision to cease making physical game discs starting in 2028 has been met with strong backlash.Hideo Kojima, developer of the Metal Gear franchise, said he was saddened by the news.Brands including Microsoft's GitHub have also been trolling Sony.The furor over Sony's decision to stop producing physical PlayStation discs starting in 2028 is not slowing dow…
Sony announces PlayStation will go to a fully digital storefront by 2028
On Wednesday, Sony announced in a blog post that it would stop producing all physical game releases by 2028. The post sent social media into a frenzy, with the initial post quickly garnering many negative reactions. While some people feel like digital is the way of the future, many still buy games and other media physically. “I frequently purchase physical copies of video games: that is, when a game can be purchased physically, I will opt to do …
Sony to Continue Physical Game Disc Production for Pre-2028 Titles
Sony has confirmed plans to continue manufacturing physical game discs beyond 2028 for any titles originally released before that cutoff date. The announcement comes amid growing industry speculation about the future of physical media as digital distribution gains further ground. According to details shared in a recent Engadget report, the commitment reflects a measured approach to supporting both legacy formats and consumer preferences that sti…
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