Sony has announced physical disc production ends in January 2028 for new games releasing on PlayStation consoles. […]
This new policy will cover all games released on PlayStation consoles from all publishers after this cut-off date […]
Even if you want to own your gaming media, very soon you’ll be unable to. Sony’s Sid Shuman ascribes the decision to “shifting trends in consumer preference.” I ascribe it to Sony’s desire to improve its bottom line. You can pre-order Marvel’s Wolverine as a digital download or physical disc. Either will cost $70, but the download requires zero inventory, and incremental costs per sale amount to bandwidth usage. There are no factories or paper or ink. Shipping logistics are eliminated.
Another reason to prefer physical discs over digital downloads is the resale market. Many players recoup their costs by selling their played games through GameStop or any number of other services. One physical copy of a game could flow through the consoles of half a dozen players, and Sony sees that revenue just once. Digital sales eliminate that. Even one more player buying a copy of the game doubles Sony’s revenue.
Apple realized the value of digital distribution in 2003 with the iTunes Music Store, embraced it in 2008 with the App Store, and solidified it in 2011 when it discontinued boxed software for Mac apps. Apple hasn’t sold physical software in fifteen years. Sony has plenty of “trends in consumer preference” to point to and incremental revenue to book. I’m only surprised they’ve waited this long.