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- Why Is Sony Disc-ing Around?
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Why Is Sony Disc-ing Around?
You may have missed some recent big news on the video game console front: starting January 2028, Sony will no longer be producing physical discs for its PlayStation console, and all new games will be released digitally. Its press release contained some amusing language:
In response to shifting trends in consumer preference, new games will be released on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.
“In response to shifting trends in consumer preference” is a curious way to phrase this. Are these organically shifting trends? With chains like GameStop closing local stores across the country, how would anyone expect these trends to shift anywhere else?
Twitter backlash is obviously not always real life anger, but as Forbes reports, “It appears this situation might be the most outraged gamers have been at PlayStation in 20 years, if not ever.” Why is this? As a casual but consistent gamer, let me explain:
First, this will mostly obliterate the very important (to gamers) secondhand market. Physical games can be resold, traded, borrowed, handed down to younger siblings, and so on. There really is no equivalent of this for digital-only games. A digital purchase may be discounted during a sale or because you have a gift card, or perhaps because you have a PlayStation Plus account where you have access to some free games (as long as you keep paying its monthly fee). Of course, all of these latter circumstances share something important that the secondhand market doesn’t: Sony makes money!
Second, where one console goes, the others are sure to follow. IGN is reporting that Microsoft is also exploring ditching physical discs for its next generation console codenamed “Project Helix” with an additional concern:
Although it's certainly possible that future consoles could have an optional disc drive to support physical backward compatible titles, it's hardly a guarantee at this point.
We have already seen how much both Sony and Microsoft care about the ownership rights of their customers for movies and TV shows they’ve purchased: zero! It seems unlikely they will be much more solicitous for your game libraries. “Oh no, you didn’t buy the game, you bought the license to play the game! And now the license has expired.”
A more uncertain question: how far will the film/TV studios go in this direction? We know how much the streamers dislike physical media releases and would prefer consumers are able to own no “content” at all. A studio source tells me:
Physical media is far from disappearing, but rather course correcting and responding to an extremely vocal section of consumers fed up with streaming prices and quality. It's also a huge nostalgia market unlock opportunity by Gen X and simultaneous discovery of the format by Gen Z which tends to be skeptical of subscription only consumer mechanisms.
Kernels (Links worth making popcorn for)
Here’s a round-up of cool and interesting links about Hollywood and technology:
The smart TV home screen rebellion. (link)
Some kids will never think AI is cool. (link)
The six year fight to re-open a Hollywood movie palace. (link)
2026’s box office bounceback. (link)
Peacock is coming to YouTube Premium. (link)