Sony to Stop Making PlayStation Discs After 2027

Sony announced earlier this month that it will stop making PlayStation game discs after 2027. After that date, all new video games on its platforms will be delivered only as digital downloads. Physical discs currently let buyers maintain collections, resell copies, and retain access without ongoing subscriptions or accounts. Sony’s move follows the same shift already seen in movies and music.

Consumers who buy digital games, movies, or albums receive a licence rather than ownership. That licence can be revoked if the seller loses distribution rights, merges platforms, or shuts down servers. In September, Sony will remove 551 movies from users’ digital libraries even when buyers paid full price, citing licensing agreements with StudioCanal.

An Xbox user in Europe recently lost access to a library reported to have cost thousands of dollars after a hacker took control of the account; Microsoft later restored the purchases.

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission spokesperson stated that businesses should avoid words like “purchase” or “buy” when supplying only a licence. The agency said sellers must inform customers that access may later be removed or changed. Benjamin Hayward, senior lecturer at Monash University, said no clear court precedent exists on whether consumer rights that apply to physical objects also cover purely digital goods.

He noted that legal proceedings may arise as more companies follow Sony’s approach.

Vinyl record sales are also increasing in Australia even though more than 90 per cent of paid music is delivered by streaming. George Poutakidis, founder and CEO of retailer Addicted To Audio, said younger buyers are choosing physical formats for quality and direct support of artists.