Sony adds warning sticker to new PS5 boxes announcing shift to digital-only releases in 2028
Sony placed a notice on PlayStation 5 packaging stating that from January 2028 new games will be sold only digitally, while existing disc titles will remain playable.
Sony has begun labeling new PlayStation 5 boxes with a notice that, beginning in January 2028, all new game releases will be available solely through the PlayStation Store or other digital retailers. The sticker clarifies that discs released before that date will continue to work on the console. The warning, first reported on social media, suggests the company has been planning the transition away from physical media for some time.
Industry observers note that the announcement could affect relationships with retail partners and may influence the design of the upcoming PlayStation 6, which is expected to omit a disc drive. Consumer groups have organized a week-long boycott of PlayStation Network services in late August to protest the move, citing concerns over the loss of physical media and its role in game preservation.
Separately, a developer recently assembled a small server farm to preserve a discontinued mobile game, highlighting broader worries about digital-only titles becoming inaccessible if online services are discontinued.