New retail releases may shift toward digital codes after 2028
Summary
– Developers will still be able to order new PS5 discs after 2028, but only for older games with prior disc releases
– Sony reportedly told partners that existing PlayStation disc games can still receive reorders
– New retail releases may move toward digital codes instead of newly printed physical discs
Sony’s plan to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games now has an important clarification.
The company announced last week that it will stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028. That decision immediately raised questions about what would happen to games already available on disc.
According to a partner message seen by Game File, publishers and developers will still be allowed to place reorders for existing PlayStation disc games after the cutoff date.
That means older titles that already received a physical release can still have additional discs printed. The restriction applies to brand-new games released after the January 2028 deadline.
Sony also told partners that the disc ordering process will change, though the details have not been finalized.
The company added that publishers will have the option to release new games at retail using digital codes. More information on how that system will work is expected later.
The clarification may ease some concerns for older physical releases, but it does not change the bigger shift. Sony is still moving future PlayStation retail releases away from traditional discs and toward digital access.
For players who value ownership, collecting, used games, and offline access, the update keeps part of the physical market alive. It also makes clear that new PlayStation releases after 2028 may look very different on store shelves.
