Tokyo: Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on Thursday its decision to halt production of disc editions for new PlayStation games starting January 2028, transitioning exclusively to downloadable versions. This marks the end of an era that began with the original PlayStation console's debut in December 1994.
According to Philippines News Agency, the decision will not impact games currently available for sale. Sony Group Corp.'s gaming unit highlighted a significant shift in consumer preferences, with demand for downloadable versions surpassing that for physical discs. This trend, along with evolving market conditions, influenced the decision to cease disc production.
In the fiscal year ending March, game disc sales constituted only 5 percent of Sony's game software revenue, which totaled JPY2.64 trillion. The PlayStation 5, released in 2020, already features a model that does not include a disc drive, reflecting the industry's gradual shift towards digital formats.
