UK Retail Association Condemns PlayStation’s Decision to Kill Discs
The move has drawn a 300,000-signature petition and criticism from UK retailers, who say physical games still account for major sales.
- Sony plans to retire all PlayStation game discs by early 2028, sparking widespread backlash from players and retailers who depend on physical media sales.
- Nielsen and GfK reported last year that 45 percent of all physical games sold were for PS4 or PS5, representing nearly half of all revenue from physical games.
- Valued at about $402 million in 2025, the disc-based games market remains substantial; ERA CEO Kim Bayley argued that removing discs "simply removes choice."
- A petition calling for the company to reverse course has surpassed 300,000 signatures, with consumers emphasizing that physical copies enable sharing, trading, and long-term preservation.
- While movies continue to release on Blu-ray and music on vinyl, many gamers question why video games are the first major entertainment medium shifting exclusively to digital.
12 Articles
12 Articles
'Removing discs doesn’t represent progress – it simply removes choice' — The Entertainment Retailers Association denounces Sony's decision to kill physical discs
The Entertainment Retailers Association has slammed Sony's decision to kill physical discsThe UK trade organization says digital games "should complement physical formats, not replace them"The ERA says, "Removing discs doesn’t represent progress – it simply removes choice"UK trade organization, Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), has criticized Sony's decision to end production of physical PlayStation discs.The gaming company has received…
UK Retail Bashes PlayStation for Killing Discs: "Triumph of Corporate Convenience Over Consumer Choice"
Recently, PlayStation made the announcement that they were no longer going to produce physical discs for games released in 2028. And obviously, that received a lot of hate from consumers. Even retailers are getting behind customers, with a UK retailer bashing PlayStation for killing off discs, saying it’s taking away consumer choice. It’s not just a lot of online hate and pushback; a petition has even been made to ask Sony to reconsider their de…
'Save the disc' gains momentum as pressure on Sony mounts from gamers, consumer groups, and politicians
The catastrophic reaction from gamers to PlayStation’s decision to end disc-based games in 2028 has been well-covered, but it’s eventually going to reach a boiling point. That time may be rapidly approaching, as coverage of the blowback has reached mainstream media like NBC News, but it’s also caught the eye of politicians like a French presidential candidate and even several consumer protection agencies across the world. Image via PlayStation A…
'A Triumph of Corporate Convenience Over Consumer Choice' — Backlash to PlayStation Killing Discs Intensifies as Retailer Association Slams Sony
A retailer association has heavily criticized Sony’s decision to kill discs on PlayStation, saying it takes away consumer choice from gamers.
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