![\"PS5](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_303611777-e9c1.jpg\")
\n\t\tThis sight will soon be a thing of the past (Credits: REUTERS)<\/p>\n
\t\t
\n\t\tThis sight will soon be a thing of the past (Credits: REUTERS)<\/p>\n
Publishers will be allowed to sell new game discs after next year but only for games that are already out, as Sony<\/a> double down on its all-digital approach.<\/p>\n Considering how common U-turns are in the games industry, many fans hoped that Sony could be talked out of its decision to stop production of game discs<\/a> after next year. Unfortunately, that looks increasingly unlikely, as not has Sony already repurposed its main disc-making factory<\/a>, but it\u2019s given more detail on how exactly the move to digital-only will work.<\/p>\n Sony manufacturers all the discs for PlayStation consoles, whether they\u2019re games published by them or not, so even if other companies wanted to produce their own discs there\u2019s no easy way to do so \u2013 and it\u2019s almost certainly prohibited by their licensing arrangement with Sony.<\/p>\n However, technically Sony will still allow some new game discs to be pressed after January 2028. That\u2019s not a U-turn though, as the catch is that it has to be for games that have already been released.<\/p>\n What limits Sony will place on manufacturing new copies of existing games is unclear, but it\u2019s not likely to be an offer publishers will be all that interested in. Perhaps companies releasing big-name titles near the end of the deadline, like next year\u2019s Call Of Duty<\/a> and EA Sports FC<\/a> 28, may take Sony up on their offer but that\u2019s likely to be it.<\/p>\n It\u2019s still unclear if Sony will make any provision for companies like Limited Run Games to produce disc versions specifically for collectors, but at the moment there\u2019s no indication that they will \u2013 although if they were looking for some way to placate fans that might be one option.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\tExpert, exclusive gaming analysis\t\t\t<\/p>\n Sign up to the GameCentral newsletter<\/a> for a unique take on the week in gaming, alongside the latest reviews and more. Delivered to your inbox every Saturday morning.<\/p>\n Despite the internet seemingly being up in arms over the decision, though, there\u2019s little in the way of any organised opposition, with the biggest petition<\/a> having only just passed 100,000 signatures.<\/p>\n That might sound like a lot in theory but given the PlayStation 5<\/a> has sold over 90 million consoles so far, it\u2019s clear the majority of owners don\u2019t see it as a major issue. Or at least are not motivated enough to try and do anything about it.<\/p>\n Whether that will change over the coming days and weeks remains to be seen but Metal Gear<\/a> creator Hideo Kojima<\/a> has spoken out against the move. Although, in comments made at an Italian film festival, he seemed more worried about what would happen to movies, even as he said he found the news \u2018really sad.\u2019<\/p>\n \u2018[Games] are downloaded to the hard drive, that means the game data remains on your own hardware. However, if things shift to streaming in the future, that won\u2019t be the case anymore, he said, according to a translation by Genki.<\/p>\n \u2018One naturally has to consider the possibility that if there is a change, the data inside will stop being distributed. And if that happens you won\u2019t be able to watch or play the movies and games you like,\u2019 he added. \u2018That is what is frightening.\u2019<\/p>\n As unpopular as Sony\u2019s move may be with hardcore gamers the fact remains that they wouldn\u2019t have tried to do it if the vast majority of customers weren\u2019t already buying games digitally most of the time. That fact alone is why, with the possible exception of a few minor concessions, Sony is never likely to backtrack.<\/p>\n \t\t Email\u00a0gamecentral@metro.co.uk<\/a>, leave a comment below,\u00a0follow us on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n To submit Inbox letters and Reader\u2019s Features more easily, without the need to send an email, just use our\u00a0Submit Stuff page here<\/a>.<\/p>\n For more stories like this,\u00a0check our Gaming page<\/a>.<\/p>\n Arrow Arrow Arrow![\"Xbox](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/SEI_294162339-391e.jpg\")
\n\t\tIt remains to be seen how Xbox is going to react to all this (X\/Hideo Kojima)<\/p>\n
\nMORE: Why do Xbox and PlayStation hate video games and their customers? \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: Video games need an expiry date if they\u2019re going to be digital only \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/p>\n
\nMORE: What on earth is happening to the video games industry? \u2013 Reader\u2019s Feature<\/a><\/p>\n