Sony has revealed that developers will still be able to manufacture discs for games after the format holder goes all-digital in January 2028, but only for games that were released prior to that date.
The consoles maker announced last week that it’s ceasing production of physical game discs for PlayStation 18 months from now, moving to an all-digital future. However, it did note at the time that this would not impact titles that had already been released on disc prior to January 2028. Now, a message sent to developers and publishers viewed by Game File reads that publishers “will still be able to place re-orders for existing PlayStation disc games,” referring to games released in 2027 or earlier.
In addition, Sony informed partners that it will “provide publishers with the opportunity to release new games at retail using digital codes,” with more info to come at a later date. This could result in a similar situation to Grand Theft Auto VI’s upcoming physical release, which only includes a digital download code.
Sony’s decision to move towards digital-only titles has been met with heavy criticism from fans online. Shawn Layden, former chairman of Sony’s Worldwide Studios, also commented on the situation, stating that he doesn’t “necessarily agree” with Sony’s plans but noted that he doesn’t work in that industry anymore.