PlayStation has confirmed it will proceed with its plan to stop producing physical game discs, despite significant public opposition. The company initially announced earlier this month that physical game production would cease from January 2028.
Sony Interactive Entertainment explained the move as a natural adaptation to consumer trends, noting a preference for digital media over physical discs. However, the decision has been met with widespread backlash, including a petition with over 345,000 signatures asking Sony not to "kill the disc" and calls for an economic boycott.
Despite the criticism, Sony's chief financial officer, Lin Tao, stated that the company will not alter its plans. Speaking via a translator at a recent earnings call, Tao explained that the decision was made after careful consideration, driven primarily by the ongoing digitalisation of content.
The move has also led to concerns about the future of brick-and-mortar retail stores. Some fans are already boycotting upcoming game releases, such as Grand Theft Auto 6, after it was confirmed that publishers would ship a code in a box instead of a physical disc.