- Sony has announced that it plans to end production of physical game discs in January 2028.
- The move has angered players, and a petition urging the company to reverse the decision has amassed more than 250,000 signatures.
- Major UK second-hand retailer MusicMagpie warns this could lead to higher prices and less choice for buyers
Last week, PlayStation maker Sony announced it would end production of new game discs in January 2028 in response to demand for digital releases “significantly” outpacing physical ones. The move immediately angered gamers, with some vowing to stop purchasing PlayStation products altogether and creating a petition urging the company to change its mind.
The petition has amassed almost 250,000 signatures, prompting major UK second-hand retailer musicMagpie to intervene.
Its in-house physical games expert, Alex Black, warns that Sony’s decision will lead to higher prices and less choice for buyers: “If the industry moves away from physical media entirely, consumers will have fewer opportunities to shop around to find the best price or recoup some of the cost of new releases by trading in games.”
Alex Black
Alex Black is Media Category Manager at musicMagpie and has several years’ experience working in the second-hand entertainment market. He is responsible for the company’s video game and book categories, overseeing pricing, business strategy, and market analysis.
He believes the decision even risks making the hobby less accessible by excluding those with lower disposable income. “Pre-owned games give people access to more affordable games while also extending the life of physical products,” he explains.
“Customers regularly buy used games to save money and sell full titles to help finance their next purchase. It’s a model that benefits both consumers and sustainability by keeping mint-condition products in circulation longer.”
The retailer is also aware of the online reaction to the announcement and reckons it shows how important physical releases are for gamers, even if Sony seems to think otherwise.
“Feedback from gamers on Sony’s decision to go digital-only clearly demonstrates that there is a huge community of gamers who still value physical ownership, whether to collect, preserve, or simply own something they can keep, lend, or resell,” says Black.
“For many consumers, buying a physical game means purchasing an asset that retains, or even increases, its value. Comparatively, digital purchases are tied to licenses and various platforms, meaning consumers have less flexibility over what they buy.”
musicMagpie’s sales data certainly indicates that there is still some demand for physical titles. Over the past year, the retailer sold approximately 360,000 physical video games, of which more than 157,000 were for PlayStation systems.
While musicMagpie’s stance might win points among gamers, it might be too late for Sony to change course. The company has already taken steps to repurpose the historic PlayStation factory that made 24 billion discs, while industry analysts say digital sales are “too lucrative” to ignore.
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