Sony eliminates physical games on PlayStation: goodbye to the second-hand market

On July 1, 2026, Sony posted on its official blog that from January 2028, new games for PlayStation consoles will be released exclusively in digital format. This means there will be no physical discs for PS5 or the upcoming PS6. The company justifies the move by the changing trend in consumption: more and more players opt for digital downloads, and studios and platforms prefer this model for its greater control and lower distribution costs. According to data from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), in 2025 digital sales accounted for 83% of the total console video game market, up from 74% in 2020. Sony had already observed this growth: in its 2025 fiscal report, digital sales on PlayStation Network reached $28 billion, 18% more than the previous year. The decision, however, is not sudden: since 2020, Sony had been reducing disc production and launching digital editions of its consoles, such as the PS5 Digital Edition. The announcement formalizes a transition that many analysts took for granted, but still generates controversy among more traditional players.

Immediate impact on the second-hand market

The elimination of the physical format ends the possibility of buying, selling, or exchanging used games. Until now, disc-based titles allowed users to recover part of their investment by reselling them, and buyers to access lower prices. With the digital model, each game is tied to a PlayStation Network account, with no transferability. This especially affects emerging economies where the second-hand market is key to accessibility. For example, in markets like Brazil or India, used physical games can cost up to 60% less than discounted digital ones. A study by consulting firm DFC Intelligence estimates that the global market for used console games moved $4.2 billion in 2025, a figure that will almost completely disappear with the measure. Additionally, retailers like GameStop, which rely heavily on second-hand game sales, could face a drastic drop in revenue. GameStop has already seen its shares fall 12% after the announcement, according to Reuters. Sony, for its part, will benefit by capturing the margin it previously left in the hands of third parties: direct digital sales yield a margin of up to 70%, compared to 20-30% for physical sales after distribution and retail costs.

Consequences for collectors and preservation

Collectors will lose the ability to own physical editions with covers, discs, and exclusive content. Furthermore, the preservation of video games as cultural heritage becomes complicated: without physical copies, access to older titles will depend on Sony keeping its download servers active. If in the future it closes the PlayStation Store for older consoles, many games could disappear. This risk is not hypothetical: in 2021, Sony closed the digital store for PS3, PSP, and PS Vita, leaving hundreds of titles inaccessible to new buyers. Although the company partially backtracked after criticism, the precedent is worrying. Organizations like the Video Game History Foundation have pointed out that 87% of video games released before 2010 are no longer commercially available. With the digital format, this percentage could increase dramatically. Collectors will also lose the resale value of limited editions: for example, a sealed copy of 'God of War Ragnarök' Jötnar Edition sells for over 300 euros on eBay today, but a digital key has no resale value. Sony has not offered guarantees on long-term preservation, merely stating that it 'will continue to evaluate options.'

Industry reaction and precedents

This decision follows other similar moves, such as the 100% digital release of GTA 6 (whose 'physical' version only includes a download code) or Microsoft's bet on Game Pass and the digital model. However, Sony had until now maintained a strong commitment to the physical format, making this announcement especially significant. Other companies, like Nintendo, are expected to watch market reaction before making similar decisions. Nintendo, which still sells physical cartridges for the Switch, has stated it 'has no plans' to eliminate the physical format, but analysts like David Gibson of MST Financial believe competitive pressure could lead them to follow the same path by 2030. In the PC sector, the physical format has practically disappeared: according to Steam, more than 98% of its sales are digital. The key difference is that on PC there are platforms like GOG that offer DRM-free games, allowing backups. On consoles, Sony maintains a closed ecosystem. The announcement has also generated reactions from regulators: the European Commission has opened an informal consultation on the impact on competition and consumer rights, according to Politico. The consumer association BEUC has criticized the measure for 'eliminating real ownership of the product.'

What should readers know?

Users who still prefer the physical format have until January 2028 to purchase disc-based games. After that date, all purchases will be digital, implying dependence on internet connectivity and the permanence of online platforms. Sony has not confirmed whether there will be exceptions for special or collector editions. For now, the PS5 Pro and the future PS6 could do without the disc drive, reducing manufacturing costs. According to IHS Markit estimates, removing the optical drive reduces the production cost of a console by about $20, which could translate into a lower selling price. However, Sony has not announced discounts for digital versions. Players should also consider storage costs: digital games take up hard drive space, and downloads can be slow in regions with limited internet. In countries like Argentina, where the average download speed is 6 Mbps, a 100 GB game can take over 30 hours to download. Sony recommends a connection of at least 50 Mbps for an optimal experience, but according to the OECD, 40% of households in Latin America do not reach that speed. Additionally, the absence of a disc prevents playing offline if the game requires online verification, although Sony has assured that purchased titles can be downloaded and played offline after initial authentication. Still, dependence on Sony's servers is total: if the company were to shut down PSN in the future, purchased games would become inaccessible. For all these reasons, this transition represents a paradigm shift in video game ownership, moving from a tangible good to a service conditioned by the platform's terms.

“The end of physical games on PlayStation marks a before and after in the industry: video game ownership becomes a loan conditioned by the platform's terms of service.”