Sony’s 'ironic' PlayStation disc decision upends gamer conventions and threatens a $7 billion resale market - CNBC

What the report says

CNBC reports that Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games after the end of 2027, with new releases becoming digital-only from January 2028. Boxed copies, where offered, would include download codes instead of discs. CNBC framed the move as a sharp reversal from Sony’s 2013 PlayStation 4 messaging, when the company contrasted itself with Microsoft by emphasizing easy disc sharing and resale.

The change could improve Sony’s economics by reducing manufacturing and retail costs while steering more purchases through the PlayStation Store. Wedbush analyst Michael Pachter told CNBC that Sony may save money, but consumers would have fewer options. Morningstar’s Kazunori Ito described the shift as ironic because Sony previously built goodwill around physical ownership. Sony and PlayStation did not respond to CNBC’s requests for comment, according to the report.

The decision matters because physical discs allow players to lend, trade, gift, preserve or resell games in ways digital codes generally do not. CNBC cited Dataintelo estimates putting the global second-hand game platform market, including used games, consoles, accessories and peripherals, at $7.2 billion in 2025, with projected growth to $13.8 billion by 2034. Analysts quoted by CNBC warned that the move could accelerate the decline of used game sales and brick-and-mortar game retail.

CNBC also noted that existing disc-based PlayStation games and titles released before the cutoff would not be affected. Supporters of the shift may point to changing consumer behavior: Sony said physical game revenue for PS4 and PS5 in full-year 2025 was far below digital download revenue, and described the move as an adaptation to demand for digital media.