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PlayStation discs ending in 2028: new games on PlayStation go digital only from January 2028
Sony is ending physical disc production for all new games released on PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028. It announced the change on the PlayStation Blog on July 1, 2026. After that date, new games are sold on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. Games already released, and games that come out on disc before January 2028, aren't affected, and Sony's US store says discs for those games can still be played on the PS5. Sony said players' preference has moved away from discs. It still sells the PS5 with a disc drive for $649.99 and a Disc Drive for the Digital Edition. On the same day, Sony said it's closing PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita, with most countries losing it in July 2027. As of Oct. 17, 2026, Sony hasn't announced any change to the disc plan.
- PS5
PlayStation games are going digital only. Here’s when the last discs ship, what happens to the games you already own and what Sony still sells with a disc drive.
When do PlayStation discs end?
In January 2028. Sony said on July 1, 2026, that physical game disc production for all new games released on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting that month. After it, new games are sold on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only. The change doesn’t affect games already released, or games that come out on disc before January 2028.
Why Sony is dropping discs
Sony pointed to a shift in what players and the wider entertainment industry prefer, saying “the general preference for digital media significantly outpaces physical discs.” It said it will keep giving players a choice of where to buy new games, at retailers or on PlayStation Store. The announcement collected more than 9,200 comments on the PlayStation Blog before comments closed, and as of Oct. 17, 2026, Sony hasn’t announced any change to the plan.
What happens to the discs you own
They keep working. Sony’s US store notes on its PS5 and Disc Drive listings that discs for games released before January 2028 can still be played on the console. Games that come out on disc before then, from this year’s holiday releases to games in 2027, keep their disc versions.
Some big games are already digital in the box. Rockstar says the boxed version of GTA 6, out Nov. 19, 2026, comes with a download code inside rather than a disc, as our GTA 6 release date page explains.
Should you still buy a PS5 with a disc drive?
Sony still sells one. The PS5 with a disc drive costs $649.99 in the US, $50 more than the $599.99 Digital Edition, and the PS5 Pro costs $899.99 without a drive. The Disc Drive for the Digital Edition and the Pro costs $79 on direct.playstation.com as of Oct. 17. A disc drive keeps paying off for games released on disc before 2028 and for used games. Our PS5 price page has every model and price.
Sony hasn’t said whether its next console will have a disc drive; our PS6 release date and price page tracks what it has confirmed.
PS3 and PS Vita stores close too
On the same day, Sony announced it’s closing PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita, saying the older systems can’t support updated payment processing standards. The PS3 store closes in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua starting in August 2026, in more Latin American and Middle Eastern countries starting in late 2026, and on PS3 and PS Vita in all other countries in July 2027. After that, players can’t buy new content there, but they can still download what they’ve already bought for the foreseeable future.
This page is updated as soon as Sony changes the disc plan or gives exact closing dates for PlayStation Store on PS3 and PS Vita.
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FAQ
Is PlayStation ending physical games?
For new games, yes. Sony says physical game disc production for all new games released on PlayStation consoles ends starting in January 2028. New games after that date are sold on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.
When do PlayStation discs end?
In January 2028. Games released on disc before then aren’t affected.
Will my PS5 discs still work after 2028?
Yes. Sony’s US store says discs for games released before January 2028 can continue to be played on the PS5, and Sony says the change has no impact on games released on disc before that date.
Why is Sony stopping PlayStation discs?
Sony says consumer preference and the wider entertainment industry have shifted from physical discs to digital, and that the change lines up with how most players already buy and play games.
Can I still buy PlayStation games at stores after 2028?
Yes, in digital formats. Sony says new games will be sold on PlayStation Store and at retailers, but not on disc.
Should I buy a PS5 with a disc drive?
It costs $649.99, $50 more than the $599.99 Digital Edition, and plays discs for games released before January 2028. Owners of the Digital Edition or the PS5 Pro can add the Disc Drive, which costs $79 on Sony’s US store.
Will the PS6 have a disc drive?
Sony hasn’t announced the PS6 or said whether it will have a disc drive.
Is the PS3 store closing?
Yes. PlayStation Store on PS3 closes in Mexico, Honduras and Nicaragua starting in August 2026, in more Latin American and Middle Eastern countries starting in late 2026, and on PS3 and PS Vita in all other countries in July 2027. Players can still download content they already bought for the foreseeable future.
Has Sony reversed the disc decision?
No. As of Oct. 17, 2026, Sony hasn’t announced any change, and its US store still shows the notice on its PS5 and Disc Drive listings.
Pop quiz
1 questions from this story.
When does Sony stop making discs for new PlayStation games?
Sony said on July 1, 2026, that physical disc production for all new games released on PlayStation consoles ends starting in January 2028.
Your call
How do you buy most of your PlayStation games?
