Sony has confirmed that it will stop producing physical discs for all new PlayStation games starting in January 2028, marking one of the company's biggest moves away from physical media.

In a post on the official PlayStation Blog, Sony announced that every new game released from January 2028 onward will be available exclusively in digital format through the PlayStation Store and participating retailers that sell digital game codes.

The policy only affects new releases. Games launched before the January 2028 cutoff will continue to be produced and sold on physical discs.

According to Sony, the decision reflects changing consumer habits and the entertainment industry's ongoing shift toward digital content.

PlayStation ends physical game releases

"As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028," Sony said.

The company described the move as a natural step, pointing to the growing popularity of digital purchases over physical media.

"This is a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs. This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today," the statement reads.

Sony confirmed that existing physical releases and games launching before January 2028 will not be affected and will continue to be available on disc.

The company also said players will still be able to buy digital games through both the PlayStation Store and participating retailers that sell digital download codes.

"We'll continue to prioritize our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that's at retailers or PlayStation Store. We remain committed to delivering a world class gaming experience to our fans and we thank you for your continued support."

The announcement marks another major step in the gaming industry's transition toward digital distribution, with PlayStation becoming the latest platform to move away from physical game releases for future titles.

The news follows reports published on June 25 claiming that GTA 6 would not receive a traditional disc release, while some retailers have reportedly declined to stock the game's physical edition because it does not include a disc.