Sony will reportedly continue supporting physical PlayStation games after 2028. However, the company’s definition of “support” appears to be narrower than consumers might expect, and it will not stand in the way of Sony’s efforts to wind down PS5 disc production.
In a July 1 blog post, Sony announced it was ending physical disc production for PlayStation consoles in January 2028. The phaseout will end disc manufacturing for both the PS4 and PS5. The move sparked widespread controversy among fans, with some online users calling it anti-consumer and a strong argument against owning future Sony consoles.
Physical PS5 Games Are Not Going Away, Technically
After publicly announcing plans to end PlayStation disc production, Sony reportedly contacted partner publishers and retailers to assure them that it would continue supporting physical PlayStation games after 2028. According to Game File, the notice outlines two forms of continued support: reorders of physical games released before January 2028 and orders of non-disc physical game inventory. It is currently unclear what the latter category will entail. Codes in boxes have long been standard industry practice, as most recently underlined by the “physical” edition of GTA 6, though the end of disc production means large boxes may no longer be the default format for packaging those codes. Instead, Sony could explore alternatives such as physical gift cards.
