‘Game over’ for Sony’s physical video games, production set to end in 2028

July 20, 2026 - 15:22

Sony has signaled a major shift in the gaming industry, announcing that it will stop producing physical copies of video games by 2028. The move, described by some as "game over" for disc-based gaming, means that future PlayStation titles will only be available through digital downloads. The decision marks the end of an era for collectors and gamers who prefer owning a tangible copy of their favorite titles.

One Saskatchewan game store owner says the change will hit local players hard. "This is a huge blow for small businesses and for people who don't have reliable high-speed internet," he said. He noted that many rural gamers in the province still rely on physical discs because of data caps or slow connections. He also pointed out that digital-only games cannot be resold or traded, which removes a key way for budget-conscious players to save money.

Sony has not released a full timeline for the phase-out, but the 2028 target suggests a gradual transition. The company has already released a digital-only version of the PlayStation 5, and major publishers have been pushing for a fully online marketplace. For now, physical game collectors may want to stock up while they still can. The store owner added that he expects other console makers to follow Sony's lead, eventually making physical games a thing of the past.