Sony will stop producing PlayStation game discs in 2028, Layden warns of brand costs
Sony plans to stop producing PlayStation game discs from January 2028, leaving new releases available digitally. Former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden argues the move risks alienating collectors and making ownership harder to distinguish from access; the decision also affects resale and preservation.
Bottom line — From January 2028, new PlayStation releases will be digital-only, while the ownership concerns Layden raised remain unresolved.
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On The Expansion Pass podcast, Layden suggested physical buyers might account for 20% of players, while stressing that this was an illustration, not confirmed Sony data.
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Layden called physical buyers some of PlayStation’s most loyal fans, including collectors who buy one copy to play and another to keep sealed.
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Layden argued that without a disc, players cannot resell a game and may be buying access to a digital asset rather than ownership.
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Shuhei Yoshida told Gamerbraves that disc owners often still need to download patches, downloadable content and updates, and said the loss of physical games would be a shame for collectors.
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Yoshida said the loss of discs may matter to people who buy or sell games; a GameSpot source also noted potential effects on pricing and the second-hand market.
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Layden said he had no visibility into Sony’s financial analysis, but warned that the decision could damage PlayStation’s reputation.
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Gadget Review reports that new releases will remain available through the PlayStation Store and that retailers may sell digital game codes.