Sony Addresses Community Reaction to PS Disc Phase-Out, Keeps the Course

"We're going to cautiously move this forward."

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In July, Sony announced its digital shift, officially stating that physical disc production for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will end in January 2028. The decision sparked considerable debate and backlash online. Now, Sony has issued its first official comment, addressing the community reaction.

On July 31, during a Q&A session following its Q1 2026 earnings call, Sony explained that the decision stems from several factors, and the major one is the broader shift toward digitalization.

"There are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that the digitalization of content overall has been progressing, that's the big factor," Sony Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao said (via Kotaku). "It's not just for PlayStation, but for all kinds of content, digitalization is progressing."

Lin Tao added that Sony intends to "cautiously move this forward," acknowledging the strength of the community's reaction. She noted that finding ways to engage players within the future digital ecosystem is something the company wants to keep exploring.

Read the full statement:

"And so when we think about the future – and we put in a lot of thought and time, and we cautiously considered this – and we came to this conclusion, and we're going to cautiously move this forward. And to this decision, we have received various opinions and people have strong views, and we understand that the community has put forth those views to us.

Games are loved by many people. It's a form of entertainment that's loved by people, and it's connected to people's fond memories in many cases. And so we understand those emotions. We want to consider that. And in the future digital ecosystem, how do we engage the gamers is something that we would like to continue to explore."

The retreat from physical discs is a sensitive topic for the gaming community, rooted in history, nostalgia, and concerns about game preservation. While Sony's shift reflects a broader industry move toward digital, many in the community argue that digital releases have every right to exist – just not as the only option available.

For example, Rockstar co-founder Dan Houser recently shared his opinion on physical releases: "If people want that, I think companies should provide it." At the same time, he pointed to the advantages of digital releases: they allow for updates and bug fixes. Former Rockstar writer Lazlow Jones, who was also part of the interview, agreed: owning a physical copy feels rewarding, but he also enjoys being able to download games instantly. The idea behind the Don't Kill the Disc petition is similar: its creator, Jade Pearce, CEO of PNP Games Inc., says they're not against digital releases, but against digital being the only option.

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