Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed it will stop manufacturing physical game discs for new PlayStation titles starting January 2028. The company announced the shift today, noting that digital purchases now significantly outpace disc sales across its player base. Existing disc releases remain unaffected, and games launching before the cutoff will still ship on physical media.

The move mirrors a broader industry transition that accelerated since the PS5 launched with a disc-free Digital Edition alongside the standard model. Retailers will continue selling digital codes for new releases, while the PlayStation Store becomes the primary distribution channel. Sony framed the decision as resource reallocation toward innovation in how players access games.

Separately, the company detailed upcoming changes to the PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita, platforms that have operated in maintenance mode for years. Those storefronts will lose purchase functionality for certain content categories, though previously bought games remain downloadable. The dual announcements signal Sony consolidating its commerce infrastructure around current-generation hardware.

Physical media collectors lose a format that defined PlayStation since 1994, though the writing appeared on the wall when the PS5 Pro launched without a disc drive option. Sony's phrasing makes clear the decision is driven by data, not sentiment.