Updated
Updated · WBUR News · Jul 17
PlayStation to End Physical Game Releases in 2028 as GTA 6 Drops Disc Version
Updated
Updated · WBUR News · Jul 17

PlayStation to End Physical Game Releases in 2028 as GTA 6 Drops Disc Version

3 articles · Updated · WBUR News · Jul 17

Summary

  • PlayStation said it will stop releasing physical games in 2028, extending a shift that has already sparked backlash from players who still want discs.
  • Grand Theft Auto 6 sharpened that debate by opting against a disc release, with retail copies set to come in empty boxes containing download codes.
  • Kelsey Lewin, co-owner of Seattle used-game store Pink Gorilla, said the reaction reflects persistent demand for physical media even as game distribution moves online.
  • The change mirrors earlier declines in physical movies and music, underscoring how gaming is following the broader digital-media transition.

Insights

When today's digital stores inevitably close, how will an entire generation of games be preserved for history?
As gaming goes all-digital, are you truly buying a game or just renting it from corporations?
With Gen Z preferring physical media, why is the industry abandoning its next generation of customers?