The end of CDs and drives is sparking resistance from fans. But that resistance will prove futile.
There was a huge outcry when Sony officially announced the end of physical PlayStation discs. Starting in early 2028, no new discs will be produced, and the entire gaming business will then be conducted digitally.
The decision was not well received at all. Prominent figures in the industry expressed concern about the change in direction:
- Development luminaryHideo Kojimacalled the development “alarming” and warned of the impending loss of control in a future based solely on streaming.
- The former PlayStation bossShawn Laydencriticized the decision as “dramatic” and expressed concern about the future of game distribution.
“A download code is not the same thing”
But end customers are also very upset.
Following an outcry on social media, gamers organized launched a petitionand collected signatures under the slogan “Don’t Kill the Disc” to try to dissuade Sony from moving forward with the plan. Around 116,000 users have already cast their votes.
The petition states, among other things:
A disc represents a real game that you own. You can lend it, sell it, give it away, collect it, or pass it down to your children. A box with a download code isn’t the same thing. It’s just a license—you don’t own it. Instead, you’re renting access that can be taken away from you.
Recently, PlayStation removed numerous purchased movies from users’ libraries due to expired licenses.
The current debate is also being fueled by the release ofGTA 6, whose box will contain only a code.
Sony’s Master Plan Rolls Out in Austria
However, the petition to Sony may come too late, as the company has apparently long since set the course to phase out the production of gaming CDs.
As reported by ORF, the by far most important pressing plant for Sony discs in Thalgau, Austria, has alreadyconverted to other manufacturing processes in Thalgau, Austria; employees are being retrained to produce microlenses, according to the report.
This not only confirms that Sony has been planning and preparing for the discontinuation of discs for quite some time, but also that it is already investing significant funds and logistical resources into shifting its media production to other technology areas.
Despite all the signatures on the petition, the chances of reversing this decision are likely negligible given these developments.
