Sony announced Wednesday that it will no longer produce physical disc versions of new PlayStation games beginning in January 2028, signaling a complete transition to digital-only game distribution as more consumers choose to buy games online.
The company reported that digital downloads made up roughly 80% of its full-game software sales during fiscal 2025, reflecting a steady multi-year trend away from physical media.
Going forward, new PlayStation titles launching on or after January 2028 will only be available through the PlayStation Store or through retailers offering digital formats. Games already released or already confirmed for a disc release before that cutoff date will not be affected by the change.
In a separate announcement, Sony said it will begin winding down the PlayStation Store on its older PS3 and PS Vita gaming systems. The rollout will start in select markets this year and expand worldwide by 2027. Sony explained that these consoles, now 15 to 20 years old, are no longer capable of supporting the secure payment technology required by the current PlayStation Network.
After the stores go offline, players will not be able to buy new content on those platforms. However, Sony noted that any games or content already purchased will remain available to download for the foreseeable future.
The PS3 store will go dark first in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua starting in August, with additional Latin American and Middle Eastern markets to follow later this year. All remaining markets will see both the PS3 and PS Vita stores close in July 2027.
