Sony will stop publishing physical PlayStation games starting in January 2028, according to company announcements. This move has triggered a €400 million class-action lawsuit from the Dutch organization Stichting Massaschade & Consument, which argues the shift eliminates the last competitive alternative to the PlayStation Store.
Sony’s 2028 Physical Media Phase-Out
The transition begins in January 2028. Titles released after this date will no longer feature traditional discs. While retail copies will still exist, they will contain download codes rather than physical media. Games released before this cutoff will maintain their physical editions as long as they remain available.
Lucia Melcherts, president of Stichting Massaschade & Consument, states that physical formats provided the only space where prices were determined by various retailers and the second-hand market. Without discs, Melcherts argues there is no resale value and no alternative path to the official store, leaving Sony to exclusively dictate pricing and usage conditions.
Did you know? The move toward “code-in-box” releases is being applied to titles launched from January 2028.
The €400 Million ‘Sony Tax’ Lawsuit
Stichting Massaschade & Consument represents approximately 1.7 million players in the Netherlands under the “Fair PlayStation” case. The group is seeking over €400 million in damages for what they call the “Sony tax.” This term refers to the price gap between digital games on the PlayStation Store and the prices that would exist in a market with multiple distribution channels.
The organization claims the 2028 decision reinforces the issues currently being litigated. Their core argument is that a closed platform controlling both distribution and commercial terms prevents users from switching to rival stores or reselling acquired licenses. The case recently held its first hearing in the Netherlands.
Global Legal Pressures on PlayStation Store
Sony faces similar challenges in other major markets. In the United States, a court has given provisional approval to a preliminary settlement in a class-action suit regarding digital pricing. Meanwhile, in the United Kingdom, a £2,000 million litigation continues before the Competition Appeal Tribunal. Sony maintains that its pricing structures reflect the actual costs and the value of the platform.
| Region | Legal Action | Stakes/Claim |
|---|---|---|
| Netherlands | Fair PlayStation Case | €400 Million+ |
| United Kingdom | Competition Appeal Tribunal | £2,000 million |
| USA | Digital Pricing Class Action | Court-approved settlement |
Digital Preservation and the Loss of Ownership
The removal of discs affects more than just the wallet. It restricts the ability to lend, resell, or archive games outside of Sony’s ecosystem. The Video Game History Foundation has called for technical and legal mechanisms that allow museums and archives to preserve digital works.
The foundation notes that a disc alone doesn’t guarantee preservation, as most modern games require server connections, patches, and license checks. However, the total shift to digital increases the risk that titles will vanish entirely if servers are shut down.
This debate has sparked reactions outside the gaming industry. GitHub recently proposed “Repo CDs”—limited edition physical CD-ROMs of public repositories—as a way to highlight the fragility of digital archives and the importance of physical ownership.
Pro Tip: For collectors, prioritizing the purchase of physical editions of titles released before 2028 may be a way to ensure long-term access.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my current PlayStation discs stop working in 2028?
No. Sony’s announcement applies to the publishing of new titles. Games released before January 2028 will maintain their physical editions if they remain available.
What is the “Sony Tax”?
According to Stichting Massaschade & Consument, it is the price difference between digital games on PlayStation and those that could exist in a market with more distribution channels.
Can I still buy physical games after 2028?
You can buy older physical titles, but new releases will either be purely digital or “physical” boxes containing a digital download code.
Do you believe the end of physical media will affect your gaming habits or the value of your collection? Share your thoughts in the comments below or subscribe to our newsletter for more industry updates.
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