Sony’s plan to kill game discs has gamers asking what they really own

Cologne, August 28 - Gamers are expressing shock over Sony's plan to discontinue disc sales of video games by 2028, prompting calls for a boycott. British developer Chris Bastin, 34, expressed his dismay, calling it "the end of an era" and lamenting the change. Sony's announcement of the shift away from physical discs came as a surprise, but the move was anticipated due to the industry's long-term transition towards digital distribution.

Joost van Dreunen, a professor at New York University's Stern School of Business, explained that digital distribution has largely replaced physical carriers in the industry over the past decade. Online stores have taken the place of discs associated with Xbox and PlayStation or cartridges for some Nintendo consoles. Retail margins, typically 20 to 30 per cent of total income from a single disc, are saved through digital distribution, where companies save costs by distributing games through their own networks and servers.

The PlayStation 4 and 5 saw nearly 82 per cent of their game sales being digital downloads as of early 2026, according to Sony. The company played a role in popularizing console discs in the 1990s, launching its first PlayStation. However, the shift to digital distribution has raised concerns among some gamers. Clemens Istel, a spokesman calling for the boycott, argues that going digital is not about passing on savings to consumers but rather about increasing profit. He questions whether customers will benefit from these changes.

Some collectors lament the loss of physical copies as they hold sentimental value. Thomas Bachellerie, who previously managed a games shop in Lyon, noted that second-hand sales often accounted for nearly a third of stores' turnover, a problem since digital games cannot be resold or lent. For others, nostalgia plays a role in their attachment to physical copies.

Australian civil servant Scott Whiting still carries around the "Oblivion Collector's Edition" he bought as a teenager, emphasizing the emotional and sentimental value it holds for him.

Despite gamers' reservations, digital game ownership does not grant them full ownership rights, according to lawyer Geoffray Brunaux. Digital copies represent licenses to play the game, which can be withdrawn by publishers. While anti-trust law could potentially benefit gamers in cases of game withdrawal, the European Commission has received a petition signed by nearly 1.3 million people urging protection against game cancellations. However, consumer movements have yet to achieve significant progress in this area.