Data from analyst Rhys Elliott of Alinea Analytics shows physical discs still drive significant revenue for PlayStation's top exclusives, even as Sony winds down disc production starting in 2028. Marvel's Spider-Man 2 earned $1.2 billion, with 35% from discs. Ghost of Yotei followed at nearly 40% of its $400 million. Astro Bot, Stellar Blade, and Death Stranding 2 ranged from 32% to 47%. Helldivers 2 was the outlier at just 8.3% of $235 million, expected for a multiplayer game.

Sony is becoming more cautious. Concord's cancellation cost over $300 million, and titles like Marathon, Saros, Marvel Tokon, and Lego Horizon Adventures underperformed. Marvel's Wolverine settled at 78 on Metacritic, matching last year's Days Gone Remaster.

Sony insists no backlash will change its disc-cutting decision, as digital sales yield higher profits after retailer cuts and manufacturing. Yet with prestige single-player exclusives retaining a real physical audience and Sony still seeking a live-service hit, the timing remains debatable.