Sony has announced that PlayStation will stop releasing new games on physical discs from January 2028. The company said the move reflects the growing demand for digital downloads.

The announcement came shortly after Rockstar Games confirmed that “Grand Theft Auto 6” will not launch on a traditional game disc. Instead, players can buy a digital copy or a “code in a box” sold as the physical version.

Consumer demand drives the change

In a statement on the official PlayStation Blog on Wednesday, PlayStation Senior Director of Content Communications Sid Shuman said, “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.”

He added, “Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.”

Shuman said Sony decided because more players now choose digital games over physical discs. He described the change as “a natural direction for Sony Interactive Entertainment to adapt to consumer trends as the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs.”

Existing disc releases remain unchanged

Sony said the new policy will not affect games already on the market. It also will not affect games due for release before January 2028. One of them is “Marvel’s Wolverine,” which will launch on disc later this year.

Shuman said Sony will keep improving how players buy and access games.

“We’ll continue to prioritise our resources to drive innovation in how players can access games and provide choices as to where players prefer to purchase new games, whether that’s at retailers or PlayStation Store,” Shuman wrote. “We remain committed to delivering a world-class gaming experience to our fans, and we thank you for your continued support.”

The decision marks a major change for PlayStation. From 2028, all new PlayStation games will launch in digital format only.