Sony Interactive Entertainment announced this Wednesday (1st) that it will end the production of physical discs for new games released for PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028. From that date on, new titles will be available only in digital formats, both on the PlayStation Store and at retailers. The transition does not affect games already released or those that will be released on disc before January 2028.The decision, according to the company, is a response to changes in consumer behavior. "This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends, as the overall preference for digital media significantly outweighs physical discs," the company said in an official statement.Sony’s own latest figures explain the decision. In the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025 (January to March 2026), 85% of full game sales for PS4 and PS5 were digital, leaving only 15% for physical media. The annual average for fiscal year 2025 was 78% digital sales, an increase of 2 percentage points compared to 2024. The trend is even clearer over a decade: in 2015, only 19% of Sony’s game sales were digital. By 2020, that number had already risen to 53%.Image: Dereck StricklandIn addition to consumer preference, profit margin is a decisive factor. According to an analysis of Sony’s financial results, the company generates about US$14 in profit per physical copy sold, compared to US$28 per digital copy. This is because digital sales eliminate costs with manufacturing, packaging, shipping, and retailer margins.In total terms, in fiscal year 2025, Sony shipped 70 million physical game copies, generating approximately US$1 billion, while the 248 million digital copies shipped in the same period brought in seven times more. The elimination of physical media also impacts the used games market, since a digital library cannot be resold or loaned.With information from: PlayStation, Dereck Strickland, SQMagazine
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