Sony may be moving toward a digital-only future for new PlayStation games, but it isn’t abandoning physical media entirely. A new report claims publishers will still be able to order disc copies of games – as long as they’re released before the company’s 2028 cut-off date.
Game File reports that Sony has told PlayStation developers and publishers they can continue reordering existing disc-based games even after it phases out physical releases for new titles. That offers some reassurance for publishers worried that older games could disappear from retail shelves as Sony shifts to digital-only distribution.
The clarification expands on Sony’s earlier announcement, which stated that ending physical discs would have “no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format.” While that suggested existing games would remain supported, the latest report confirms publishers can continue manufacturing additional copies. This means they are not limited to whatever stock is already in circulation.
Sony hasn’t shared exactly how that process will work. According to the report, the company told publishers that its disc ordering system will change, but details have yet to be revealed. That isn’t entirely surprising, given reports that Sony has already begun repurposing its optical disc factory in Salzburg, Austria. Now, it manufactures optical microlenses instead.
The company is also preparing another option for physical retailers. Publishers will be able to release new PlayStation games in stores using digital download codes rather than discs. However, Sony hasn’t explained how it will package or distribute those products.
While that could help preserve a retail presence for future PlayStation games, it won’t fully replace physical media for collectors. Players have long valued disc editions for ownership, resale, lending and game preservation – benefits that digital downloads don’t always offer.
For now, the biggest takeaway is that existing PlayStation disc games aren’t disappearing overnight. Publishers will still be able to manufacture more copies after 2028, provided those games launched on disc before the deadline. New PlayStation releases, however, are still likely to make the jump to digital-only distribution.
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