Sony earlier this month announced that it will fully stop producing PlayStation physical game discs starting in January 2028. Players interpreted this as an advance move toward an all-digital model for the next-generation PS6 console. The news sparked a strong backlash; it has now garnered nearly 300,000 players signing a petition in protest. Some players have even called for a coordinated cancellation of PS Plus subscriptions.
Sony to Stop Producing Physical Discs in 2028: Nearly 300,000 Sign On and PS Plus Cancellation Calls
According to reports, after Sony announced that it would fully stop producing PlayStation physical game discs starting in January 2028, the player community took two actions. One was to launch an online petition urging Sony to reverse its decision; so far, nearly 300,000 people have participated. Some players went further, calling on the community to collectively cancel PS Plus subscriptions in an attempt to pressure Sony with tangible losses.
Analyst Serkan Toto said Sony likely expected an online backlash. In his view, the best strategy right now is to cool things off and wait for the storm to naturally die down. He believes players’ resistance is probably in vain, and Sony is almost impossible to change course as a result.
EU Commissioner’s Response: Business and Contract Freedom, Not a Scope for Legislative Intervention
According to reports, Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, issued a clear response in the European Parliament. As long as game companies act legally, they have the right to decide for themselves what methods to provide products to consumers. He said: “Ultimately, it comes down to business and contract freedom. Companies have the right to provide games and services in whatever way they deem appropriate, provided they must fully safeguard consumers’ rights.”
In addition, McGrath also mentioned that the EU is currently reviewing a European Citizens’ Initiative related to whether “after a game is released in a new version, should the old version remain playable” (i.e., initiatives related to ‘Stop Killing Games’). Last month, the European Commission also clearly stated that it would not use legislation to force developers to keep their games playable after they cease operating.
FAQ
What real impacts does Sony’s decision to stop producing PlayStation physical discs have on players?
According to reports, Sony’s announcement that it will fully stop producing PlayStation physical game discs starting in January 2028 means that future releases may be available only in digital form. Players worry that this is Sony laying the groundwork early for an all-digital model for the next-generation PS6 console, and that they will no longer be able to buy physical discs later. The specific downstream impacts will depend on Sony’s official announcements.
Does the EU have the ability to stop Sony from ending physical discs?
Based on Commissioner McGrath’s public statement, the EU considers this to fall under “business and contract freedom.” Companies have the right to decide how they provide products as long as they comply with EU and national laws and protect consumers’ rights. The EU currently does not plan to intervene in such business decisions, nor has it taken legislative action on the physical disc issue.
Can players’ PS Plus cancellation actions force Sony to change its decision?
According to analyst Serkan Toto’s quantitative analysis, PlayStation has about 120 million active players worldwide, and PS Plus subscriptions are estimated at about 50 million. Even if 500,000 players cancel, it would account for only about 1% of the subscription base. Serkan Toto believes that a loss at this scale is unlikely to hurt Sony, and Sony likely will not change course because of it. The above is the analyst’s personal view.
