Sony is changing a lot over at its gaming division, and the biggest change centers on the official end of production of PlayStation games shipped on physical discs to customers worldwide.
Sony Kills Physical Discs on PlayStation Games
The company confirmed in a blog post that physical disc production for new PlayStation games will end in January 2028.
Starting in January 2028, new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will no longer come in physical disc format. Digital will be the only option for new releases from that point forward, whether purchased through the PlayStation Store or at retail.
"As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028," Sony stated in its blog post.
The change does not affect any games that have already launched or are scheduled to launch before the January 2028 cutoff. Those titles will continue to be produced and sold in their current formats without disruption.
No More Discs From and On PlayStation
According to Ars Technica, Sony framed the decision as a natural adaptation to where consumer behavior has already moved, rather than an abrupt change.
The general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs, according to the company. The move is designed to align PlayStation's distribution model with how most players already access and purchase games today.
Third-party publishers will also be subject to the same change. Any game releasing on PlayStation consoles after January 2028 would need to go digital-only, regardless of the developer or publisher behind it.
Sony said retailers will still be able to sell new games, just in digital formats rather than boxed physical copies.
Sony Also Kills PS3, PS Vita Storefronts
Alongside the disc news, Sony published a separate update on the PlayStation Store for PS3 and PS Vita. After nearly two decades of supporting the PS3 console generation, the company confirmed that the storefronts for both devices will be closing in stages.
PlayStation Store on PS3 will close in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua starting in August 2026. Additional closures in Latin American and Middle Eastern markets are expected later in 2026. All remaining countries will see both PS3 and PS Vita storefronts close in July 2027.
Sony cited PS3 and PS Vita's inability to support updated payment processing standards as the technical reason behind the closures.
New purchases will no longer be possible once the store closes on each device, though players will still be able to download previously purchased content after the closing date for the foreseeable future.
"We know this news may be disappointing to PS3 and PS Vita players who hold a special place in their hearts for this generation of gaming," Sony wrote. "PS3 and PS Vita represent an important era in our PlayStation history, so this was not an easy decision for us to make."
