PlayStation · Discs
Is Sony Killing PS5 Discs? What Changes in 2028 and What Doesn’t
Sony is ending PlayStation game discs. Starting January 2028, new games won’t ship on disc at all. Now a rumor says Sony might be having second thoughts.
What Sony announced about PS5 discs
Sony made it official in a PlayStation Blog post on July 1. From January 2028, new PlayStation games will be sold in digital formats only, on PlayStation Store and at retailers, according to TechCrunch and Push Square.
“…significantly outpaces physical discs.”
The numbers back that up. Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier reported that downloads already make up about 85% of Sony’s game sales, NPR noted.
What happens to your discs
Not much, yet. Games already on disc, and anything launching before the cutoff, keep their physical versions. Sony’s own PS5 Disc Drive listing on PlayStation Direct now carries a notice saying discs for games released before January 2028 can still be played, Push Square and MP1st reported.
The same listing says: “Due to high demand, there is a limit of 1 per order.” The drive costs $79.99 and needs an internet connection to register during setup.
| After January 2028 | Discs? |
|---|---|
| New PlayStation games | Digital only |
| Games released before 2028 | Still on disc |
| Discs you already own | Still play |
| Boxed games in stores | Sony says yes, format unclear |
Why fans are angry
The reaction was loud. TechRadar called it overwhelmingly negative, and Scripps News reported that thousands of players signed a petition to keep physical games. The big worry is ownership: you can sell, lend or trade a disc, but not a download.
The timing didn’t help. A few weeks earlier, Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6’s physical edition is a download code in a box, with no disc inside. On Sony’s July 31 earnings call, CFO Lin Tao acknowledged the feedback but said the company would still move forward “cautiously,” Gematsu and VGChartz reported.
Is Sony backing down?
Unconfirmed. Tom from Moore’s Law Is Dead said on the Broken Silicon podcast that Sony sent developers a long survey that touched on how it sells physical games, TweakTown and Wccftech reported. He called a reversal his own guess. Sony hasn’t changed the January 2028 date.
How we got here
- JuneGTA 6 physical edition revealed as code-in-box
- Jul 1Sony announces the 2028 disc cutoff
- Jul 31CFO says Sony will move forward “cautiously”
- NowRumor: Sony surveys developers (unconfirmed)
- Jan 2028No more discs for new games
My take
Digital is easy, I get it. But a disc is the only version of a game you can actually sell or lend to a friend, and that’s going away for new games.
If you have a Digital PS5 and still like physical games, I’d grab the disc drive now while you can still find one.
FAQ
Will my PS5 still play discs after 2028?
Yes. Sony’s PS5 Disc Drive listing says discs for games released before January 2028 can still be played. Only new games stop getting discs.
When does Sony stop making PlayStation discs?
Sony says disc production ends in January 2028 for new games. Games released before then, or already on disc, keep their physical versions.
Will GTA 6 come on a disc?
No. Rockstar confirmed GTA 6’s physical edition is a box with a download code inside, not a disc.
Is Sony reversing the disc decision?
Not officially. A leaker says Sony surveyed developers about it, but Sony hasn’t changed the January 2028 date.
Sources