Sony says PlayStation disc output will fall 10% in 2028, not to 10%

Sony has refuted reports that it will slash PlayStation disc manufacturing by 90%, stating the decline will be 10% in 2028. A spokesperson for Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation (DADC) told Game that chief Dietmar Tanzer’s comments were misinterpreted; the intended message was an overall volume drop of 10%, not a reduction to 10% of current levels. The company did not comment on production plans beyond 2028 and referred further inquiries to PlayStation’s public-relations team, which did not respond.

The clarification follows PlayStation’s July announcement that it will cease producing new-game physical discs from January 2028, while existing titles and those scheduled for disc release before that date will still be manufactured, and reorders will continue afterward. Unlike Microsoft, which allows third-party “Authorized Replicators” to press Xbox discs, Sony keeps disc production in-house through DADC.

Analyst Daniel Ahmad of Niko Partners suggested that ending disc production could eliminate the resale market and shift consumer spending to the PlayStation Store, where Sony enjoys higher margins. Former SIE Worldwide Studios chairman Shawn Layden described a disc-free future as “depressing, but solvable,” noting that physical media often outlives predictions of its demise. He warned that decisions based solely on financial calculations might overlook brand impact, adding that consumers value collecting and may react negatively to the move.

Boutique publisher iam8bit expressed interest in finding ways to continue producing physical PlayStation games. A potential alternative mentioned was Conectiv Supply Chain Solutions, a disc manufacturer that acquired Universal and Warner Bros.’ home-entertainment distributor SDS, though no comment was received from the company. During the recent State of Play livestream, viewers repeatedly demanded physical releases, highlighting ongoing consumer concern.