Sony responds to fan backlash and refuses to change its plans to phase out PlayStation discs
Hennadiy Chemеris
Sony has responded to the wave of criticism following its announcement that it will stop releasing new PlayStation games on physical discs starting in 2028. Despite the backlash from part of the community, the company made it clear that it has no intention of reversing course.
During Sony's latest earnings call, chief financial officer Lin Tao said the decision came after extensive discussions and careful consideration. According to her, the biggest factor was the ongoing shift toward digital distribution across the entire entertainment industry.
There are various reasons we made this decision, the biggest being that the digitalization of content overall has been progressing. It's not just for PlayStation, but for all kinds of content. We put a lot of thought and time into this decision, and after careful consideration we came to this conclusion. We're going to cautiously move this forward.
At the same time, Sony acknowledged that physical games carry strong emotional value for many players.
We understand that people have strong feelings about this. Games are loved by many people and are often connected to cherished memories. We understand those emotions, and we want to take them into account. Going forward, we will continue exploring how to engage players within the digital ecosystem.
Following the announcement, part of the community began organizing a protest. Supporters of physical media are calling for a week-long PlayStation boycott in mid-August. They argue that ending physical discs is just the latest in a series of controversial decisions by Sony, following studio closures, canceled projects, and what they see as poor support for PlayStation VR2.
During the Q&A session, one analyst also asked how dropping physical discs would affect Sony's relationship with retailers and what would continue to differentiate PlayStation consoles from gaming PCs if both platforms eventually become fully digital.
In response, Lin Tao noted that in some regions, including North America, publishers will still be able to sell boxed editions containing download codes. She also said Sony does not view physical discs as a key factor that sets PlayStation apart from PC.
According to the CFO, PlayStation will remain a more affordable alternative to high-end gaming PCs, while its biggest strengths are its curated game library and stable gaming ecosystem. As a result, Sony believes that moving away from physical media will not weaken PlayStation's ability to compete with PC gaming.
Previously, we also published an in-depth article breaking down Sony's decision to phase out physical discs.
Do you agree that the future of the gaming industry is entirely digital?
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