End of an Era: Sony’s Move to Cease Physical Game Production by 2028
Sony’s decision last week to quietly announce the end of physical game production for the PlayStation in 2028 is one of the most perfect PR disasters in recent gaming history – and considering what happened with Xbox, that’s saying something.
The Timing Dilemma
First, there was the timing. Sony announced its decision on the PlayStation Blog, less than a week after admitting it would remove 550 films from PlayStation owners’ digital libraries due to the end of a licensing deal – perfectly illustrating the dangers of purchasing digital products. (Surprise! You never owned them!) The move stands in stark contrast to the company’s stance on this issue in 2013. When Microsoft was trying to promote the Xbox One as a digital console with strict controls on sharing and reselling its games, Sony brilliantly mocked its rival with a short video about how easy it was to lend physical games to friends on PS4. Oh dear.
Public Backlash
If Sony thought the response to its decision would be moderate obedience, it was wrong. TikTok and YouTube are full of loud reaction videos from disgruntled gamers, while brands such as KFC, Domino’s and, for heaven’s sake, Dolorean have posted mock social media announcements declaring their own intentions to move to download-only. Satirical news site The Onion quickly got in on the joke, with an article claiming that popular American snacks Twinkies would become digital-only. Sony’s response? Four days of total radio silence, because hey, what can they possibly say?
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Economic Considerations
Of course, from a purely economic point of view, we understand why this decision was taken. Overall, video game publishers and console makers see game sales dominated by digital – on PlayStation, it seems that around 80% of games are purchased via the online store (although this figure is surely complicated by the fact that several hundred titles are only available as digital downloads). Ditching discs will reduce the costs of manufacturing and distributing games, and pave the way for a disc-less PS6 console, which would be cheaper to produce. Sony controls all digital sales through the PlayStation Store and can therefore also set its own prices.
Consumer Impact
The problem is that there is very little benefit to the customer. Choice is generally good for consumers, and PlayStation owners won’t have it starting in 2028. They won’t be able to buy cheaper games from retailers, they won’t be able to share games with friends or buy them second-hand. Sony can and often does hold sales on its digital store, but typically back-catalogue titles are at full price. The company faces several lawsuits over its monopoly on digital PlayStation game sales.
The Role of Superfans
More importantly, many customers who still buy physical copies will be superfans, the kind of people whose spending on games, hardware, peripherals, and merchandise is well above average. They’re not just consumers, either: they’re advocates – those who encourage their friends to buy and play games. They are active members of online communities and may also be content creators. Last year, Goldman Sachs released a report on the music industry (in which Sony is also active) in which it identified superfans as an essential part of modern business, generating $4.5 billion in revenue in 2024. Covering the report, Music Business Worldwide wrote: “What defines a superfan isn’t just spending. It’s social signaling, identity alignment, emotional investment and community. These people don’t just not consume, they contribute, create and amplify.” It’s the same in gaming – and with one decision, Sony has disenfranchised some of its most ardent supporters.
The Cultural Context
In the past, Sony has always maintained that games are both a cultural medium and a consumer product. From the amazing TV commercials that accompanied the original PlayStation to its careful handling of the popular TV series The Last of Us, it imparted to gamers an understanding of artistic value. Physical hardware played a role in this: the first PlayStation was also great for playing music CDs, the PlayStation 2 was an inexpensive DVD movie player, the PlayStation 3 introduced Blu-ray to the world. Yes, this was all happening before the digital revolution, but the image these decisions projected was of a company that understood the broader role of games consoles as an entertainment hub.
A Lesson in Consumer Preferences
Perhaps Sony has learned that statistics don’t always tell the complete story when it comes to how human beings view themselves, their preferences and their purchases. As Generation Z embraces physical media like vinyl albums, cassettes, and movie DVDs, it seems culturally illiterate to write off game discs of the future. As a lifelong gamer and media collector, the physical games I own mean far more to me than the ones buried on hard drives. It’s been wonderful to see the rise of companies like Lost in Cult and Iam8bit who produce deluxe editions of recent titles for avid collectors. This is how fandom cultures work – by rewarding and validating their most passionate fans – and it has benefits for the entire ecosystem.
Clearly, there was no column on Sony’s cost reduction spreadsheet to account for this.
What to Play
I wanted to recommend a PS5 game available for purchase on physical disc and I opted for Lego Batman: Legacy of the Dark Knightthe last title in the excellent series. It features an open-world Gotham to explore, a great combat system, and all the usual jokes and twists.
The main story mode takes you through all phases of Bruce Wayne’s life, making countless references to the character’s previous TV and film incarnations, and the co-op mode, like in previous Lego titles, is the perfect way to introduce kids to action and adventure games. Both my sons have completed the game and love it.
Available on: PC, PS5, Xbox
Estimated reading time: 15 hours and more
What to Read
As we finished the newsletter, the creator of Metal Gear, Hideo Kojimacommented on Sony’s decision to end production of physical games. Speaking at a film festival in Italy, he said: “I’m very sad about it, because I grew up with physical media. ” He also said that the prospect of a future for subscription-only games is “scary.”
Microsoft provided an update on its decision to exclude four studios, Double Fine, Compulsion Games, Ninja Theory and Undead Labs. Luckily, these developers won’t be going out of business, but elsewhere in the letter it was confirmed that 3,200 Xbox employees would be cut as part of a major company restructuring.
I loved Nottingham’s GameCity festival, a true celebration of gaming culture that took over the city center every October. Unfortunately this is long gone and GamesIndustry.biz has a cool feature asking where are all the Video game events in the UK? Rising costs and falling consumer demand are to blame, but a few survivors are still holding on.
What to Click On
Block of Questions
A familiar plea this week from Mark via email:
“I’m traveling by train a lot this summer and I need some decent mobile games that don’t require an internet connection or a really new phone. Or incredibly fast reflexes. Can you recommend some?”
OK, take a deep breath… I love trucking strategy games Mini highways And Mini-metrothe road crossing game à la Frogger, Crossed roadthe intriguing puzzle game series The roomand civilization Polytopia. I also recommend Reign: Her Majestywhere you control a queen by swiping cards like Tinder and hit card games Balatro And Kill the arrow. Ooh and Plague Inc.about the spread of a global pandemic (but that might make you a little paranoid if you’re traveling). Golf in the desert And Really bad failures are fun too, and if you haven’t played them to death, you can’t go wrong with the classics, Little wings, Fruit Ninja, Plants against Zombies, Valley of Monuments And Cut the rope.
If you have a question for the question block – or something else to say about the newsletter – click Reply or email us at pushbuttons@theguardian.com.
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