Sony's CFO on killing game discs: 'we understand the emotions' but digital is the future
Sony's CFO Lin Tao addressed the whole disc manufacturing shutdown in an investor Q&A today, and it's pretty much what you'd expect. They're sticking to the plan, but at least they're acknowledging the backlash.
The big takeaway: from January 2028, no more PlayStation game discs. Tao said the main driver is the overall digital shift, not just for PlayStation but for all content. They "cautiously considered" it and are moving forward carefully. She also admitted they've heard "various opinions" from people with "strong views" and that they understand the emotional attachment to physical media. Whether that translates into anything beyond words, who knows.
The numbers they're pointing to: 82% of PlayStation consumers already go digital. That's a huge chunk, and it's only going up. Sony obviously stands to benefit financially from cutting out the middleman on first-party sales and taking a bigger cut of third-party transactions.
Industry reactions are all over the place. Ubisoft's boss thinks a digital-only future could actually be a good thing. Meanwhile Dan Houser, Rockstar co-founder, said companies should still provide a physical option if people want it, even if digital has its perks. That petition against the move has over 220,000 signatures, and people are organizing a rally for August.
For GTA 6 specifically, we're safe. The game hits November 19, 2026, well before the disc cutoff, so physical copies will exist. But this whole thing makes you wonder how long that'll last for future Rockstar titles. I'm grabbing the disc version for the collection, but I get why most people just hit download.
Are you still buying physical for GTA 6, or has digital completely taken over for you?
Source: GameSpot · Curated content.
I'm buying the disc. That case belongs on the shelf next to my COILOVERS.
That case belongs on the shelf next to my COILOVERS.
same. physical hits different when youre building a rp setup. plus if the servers ever need a reinstall, disc saves bandwidth. gonna grab the standard edition disc and grind the old fashioned way.
I'm grabbing the disc. Every GTA since III is on that shelf and my kids know not to touch it.
82% digital sounds like a number they fluffed until it justified the spreadsheet. I don't trust Sony's "emotions" line any more than I trust an earnings call promise. Cutting discs is about killing the used market and tightening control. The 220,000 signatures won't change the spreadsheet. They never do. Simple.
physical hits different
It does, but the case isn't the point. I'm grabbing GTA 6 on disc. Servers go down, accounts get banned, and storefronts delist games. A disc is a license they can't remotely erase. Physical for this one. Future Rockstar titles won't have that safety net once 2028 hits.