New Numbers Present Sony’s Case For Abandoning PlayStation Discs - Forbes

What the report says

Forbes contributor Paul Tassi reported July 21 that new U.S. sales figures strengthen the business case behind Sony’s reported plan to move PlayStation away from physical game discs beginning in 2028. The article frames the shift as unlikely to be reversed, saying Sony’s planning, manufacturing changes and expected next-console strategy appear to be moving toward a digital-first model.

The key evidence cited comes from Circana video game industry analyst Mat Piscatella, who posted that only seven PlayStation titles have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in the U.S. during 2026. In a recent week, according to the same figures cited by Forbes, only two games sold above 10,000 physical units. Forbes also noted earlier reporting that roughly 85% of PlayStation sales are now digital, while acknowledging criticism from fans who argue that figure can be inflated because some games never receive disc releases.

Sony’s stated position, as paraphrased in the Forbes piece, is that it plans to focus resources on new ways for players to access games and on purchase options through retailers or the PlayStation Store. Forbes questioned what retail choice would look like without discs, pointing to the possibility of boxed download codes.

The development matters because an all-digital PlayStation ecosystem would affect game preservation, resale, lending, retail competition and consumer control over purchases. It could also improve Sony’s margins by reducing manufacturing and retail-related costs. Forbes’ analysis concludes that, given current sales trends and industry direction, a major reversal before 2028 appears unlikely.