{"id":23484,"date":"2026-07-31T20:12:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-31T15:12:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23484"},"modified":"2026-07-31T20:12:26","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T15:12:26","slug":"sony-moving-forward-with-ending-playstation-discs-despite-backlash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=23484","title":{"rendered":"Sony Moving Forward with Ending PlayStation Discs Despite Backlash"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<br \/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/sony-still-ending-playstation-discs.jpg?quality=80\" \/><\/p>\n<div data-id=\"1615135\" data-title=\"Sony \u201cCautiously\u201d Moving Forward with Ending PlayStation Discs Despite Gamers\u2019 \u201cStrong Views\u201d\" data-url=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2026\/07\/sony-ending-playstation-discs-2028-community-backlash\/\" data-page=\"1\" data-pages=\"1\">\n<p>Sony has confirmed to investors that it will \u201ccautiously\u201d move forward with <a href=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2026\/07\/sony-playstation-ending-physical-discs-games-2028\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">phasing out\u00a0PlayStation discs<\/a>, which will no longer be sold beginning in January 2028. The company also acknowledged major backlash from the gaming community in response to its July 1st announcement.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that the digitalization of content overall has been progressing, that\u2019s the big factor,\u201d Sony Chief Financial Officer Lin Tao said through a live interpreter during a Q&amp;A following its first-quarter earnings call. \u201cIt\u2019s not just for PlayStation, but for all kinds of content, digitalization is progressing.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tao continued, \u201cSo when we think about the future \u2014 and we put in a lot of thought and time, and we cautiously considered this \u2014 we came to this conclusion, and we\u2019re going to cautiously move this forward.\u201d She also acknowledged PlayStation fans\u2019 \u201cstrong views\u201d and \u201cemotions\u201d connected to owning discs, promising to \u201cengage the gamers\u201d in the digital ecosystem.<\/p>\n<p>Related Video<\/p>\n<p>This response echoes what Sid Shuman, Senior Director of Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, wrote on the <a href=\"https:\/\/blog.playstation.com\/2026\/07\/01\/physical-disc-production-ending-in-january-2028-for-new-games-releasing-on-playstation-consoles\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">PlayStation Blog<\/a> on July 1st. In the post, Shuman attributed the decision to \u201cshifting trends in consumer preference\u201d and added that \u201cgeneral preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Concerns about Sony handling a digital-only future have been stoked in recent weeks by an\u00a0announcement that it will be <a href=\"https:\/\/www.playstation.com\/en-gb\/legal\/psvideocontent\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">removing 551 film and TV titles<\/a> from the PlayStation Store on September 1st, along with the resurfacing of a policy in the UK and Europe that allows the company to <a href=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2026\/07\/playstation-three-year-game-deletion-policy-inactivity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">close PlayStation accounts<\/a> after three years of inactivity \u2014 effectively deleting games and any other purchases attached to the account.<\/p>\n<p>All this means is that Sony is saying the quiet part out loud. The company\u2019s flagship console, the $899 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/PlayStation-5-Pro-Console-2TB\/dp\/B0FTMY4YZ2?th=1&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=conseofsound-20&amp;linkId=89464f64c7916e61155ec006c8e5e243&amp;language=en_US&amp;gaOptInStatus=true&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">PlayStation 5 Pro<\/a>, does not come with a built-in\u00a0disc drive \u2014 you have to \u201cdowngrade\u201d to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/PlayStation%C2%AE5-console-1TB-PlayStation-5\/dp\/B0FRGTYSL5?th=1&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=conseofsound-20&amp;linkId=70c5709ada4d2cb0aa058dbf7b741f33&amp;language=en_US&amp;gaOptInStatus=true&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">regular $649 PS5<\/a> for that \u2014 with its\u00a0competitors moving in the same direction.<\/p>\n<p>While Microsoft\u2019s high-end <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Microsoft-Xbox-Gaming-Console-video-game\/dp\/B08H75RTZ8?th=1&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=conseofsound-20&amp;linkId=069f9b6c80a72fa33ab9df3f91b47efe&amp;language=en_US&amp;gaOptInStatus=true&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Xbox Series X<\/a> comes with a drive, its cheaper sibling, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/X-Box-S-All-Digital-Console\/dp\/B09PYTJXXQ?&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=conseofsound-20&amp;linkId=e0ded83d4a3050b2e0b9ddac47220d43&amp;language=en_US&amp;gaOptInStatus=true&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Xbox Series S<\/a>, is digital-only. Meanwhile, an increasing number of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Nintendo-Switch-Choose-Your-Bundle-2\/dp\/B0GZ5DFHC5?th=1&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=conseofsound-20&amp;linkId=0b23b74ef51dddba841215211f1244dc&amp;language=en_US&amp;gaOptInStatus=true&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">Switch 2<\/a> \u201ccartridges\u201d actually function as\u00a0key cards to unlock game downloads.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the largest bellwether is that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Grand-Theft-Auto-VI-PlayStation-Delivers\/dp\/B0H6K928WL?th=1&amp;linkCode=ll2&amp;tag=conseofsound-20&amp;linkId=92a311d8fc274656bdebe461a6220f71&amp;language=en_US&amp;gaOptInStatus=true&amp;ref_=as_li_ss_tl\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">\u201cphysical version\u201d<\/a> of the most anticipated game of all time, <em>Grand Theft Auto VI<\/em>, <a href=\"https:\/\/consequence.net\/2026\/06\/grand-theft-auto-6-pre-order-price-editions-bonuses\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">will not contain a disc<\/a>, but rather a download code in the box.<\/p>\n<p>Read Sony CFO Lin Tao\u2019s full statement:<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">\u201cWe announced that January 2028 onwards we will no longer be manufacturing game discs. So, one-and-a-half years ahead. So we made this announcement at this time.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">There are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that the digitalization of content overall has been progressing, that\u2019s the big factor. It\u2019s not just for PlayStation, but for all kinds of content, digitalization is progressing.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">And so when we think about the future \u2014 and we put in a lot of thought and time, and we cautiously considered this \u2014 we came to this conclusion, and we\u2019re going to cautiously move this forward.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">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\u2019s a form of entertainment that\u2019s loved by people, and it\u2019s connected to people\u2019s fond memories in many cases.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">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.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n\t\t!function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s){if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n\t\tn.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;\n\t\tn.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=1;\n\t\tt.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,\n\t\tdocument,'script','https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n\t\tfbq('init', '1753966171496536');\n\t\tfbq('set','agent','tmgoogletagmanager', '1753966171496536');\n\t\tfbq('track', \"PageView\");\n\t<\/script><script defer crossorigin=\"anonymous\" src=\"https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/sdk.js#xfbml=1&#038;version=v7.0&#038;appId=434175690014\" nonce=\"6gwmbCtM\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Sony has confirmed to investors that it will \u201ccautiously\u201d move forward with phasing out\u00a0PlayStation discs, which will no longer be sold beginning in January 2028. The company also acknowledged major backlash from the gaming community in response to its July 1st announcement. \u201cThere are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that the&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":23485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/consequence.net\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/Playstation.jpeg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[19],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-23484","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-newsweek-trending"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23484","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=23484"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/23484\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/23485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=23484"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=23484"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=23484"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}