Starting January 2028, Sony will only release new PlayStation games in digital format, ceasing production of physical discs. Do you prefer digital or physical media? | July 2, 2026 | YoungRippa59
Opinion: The shift toward digital‑only game distribution—where players purchase licenses rather than true ownership—creates long‑term risks that push many gamers toward piracy or unauthorized backups. Legally, piracy is still considered copyright infringement, but the motivation behind it often stems from preservation rather than malicious intent.
There are several documented issues with digital‑only games:
- Delisting is common. Games like Scott Pilgrim vs. The World: The Game (delisted for 6 years) and Forza Horizon 3 were removed from digital stores due to licensing expirations.
- Server shutdowns make games unplayable. Online‑only titles such as The Crew (2014) became completely unplayable when servers were shut down, even for single‑player.
- Platform closures erase libraries. The Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShops closed in 2023, permanently removing access to hundreds of digital‑only titles.
- Physical media remains functional for decades. Cartridges and discs for systems like the NES, SNES, PS1, and PS2 still work 20–35 years later with no online dependency.
Because of these realities, many players feel that older consoles—up to the PlayStation 2 era—offered more reliable ownership. You could plug in the system, insert a disc, and play instantly. Modern consoles often require multi‑gigabyte downloads, patches, and account verification before a game becomes usable.
This tension between digital licensing and true ownership is why some gamers turn to piracy or disc burning as a form of preservation, even though the law still classifies it as infringement.
Related information: Sony Just Killed Discs: Physical Disc Production to End January 2028 for New Games Releasing on PlayStation Consoles
