Sony to end physical game discs by 2028

Goodbye disc: Sony cuts physical format in 2028

Sony has told its partners that from 2028 it will stop manufacturing games on disc for PlayStation. The move turns the platform into an exclusively digital store and buries one of the console's last arguments against PC: the ability to own, resell and lend the media. The news is not a surprise: the PS5 Pro already sold without a disc drive, and the anticipated GTA VI will arrive without a physical edition. But the specific timeline —2028, presumably coinciding with the launch of the PS6— has raised alarms.

The end of second-hand and real ownership

Beyond the plastic, what disappears is the ability to buy a used game, give it away or inherit it. In the European Union, Directive 2001/29/EC enshrines the exhaustion of the distribution right: when you buy a disc, you can resell it. The phrases "resale prohibited" on covers have a deterrent effect, but no legal force. In digital, however, you only acquire a revocable license, as demonstrated by the closure of the PS3 and Vita stores, which will leave hundreds of titles inaccessible. As has been pointed out, PlayStation Store has already removed more than 500 movies from users' accounts without compensation.

The migration to PC: reality or mirage?

Faced with Sony's digital monopoly, many players look to Steam or GOG. The problem is the entry cost: building a 4K gaming PC for the living room costs around 2,400 euros, according to estimates by fans themselves. Decent pre-built PCs cost between 1,600 and 2,000 euros. Moreover, those with a digital PlayStation library face a massive loss if they abandon the platform. The average console user, accustomed to simplicity, is unlikely to make the leap. On the other hand, platforms like Steam do not guarantee ownership either: licenses depend on DRM and can be revoked.

The paradox of the digital collector

The generation that grew up with digital often scorns physical, but will find that their library can disappear with a generation change. Xbox already demonstrated that compatibility is not eternal: its digital Xbox One games do not always work on Series X|S. Sony has not assured compatibility of PS5 games with future consoles, let alone with a hypothetical jump to ARM architecture. The question left in the air is: what sense will a console make when even the media you buy is not yours?