Following news that Sony Interactive Entertainment is ceasing production of game discs for PlayStation hardware in January 2028, it’s been revealed that the company’s stock has jumped by 3.2.%.
Sony made the decision based on consumer behaviour, specifically regarding the large uptake of digital game purchases, which has grown rapidly in the period since COVD-19. Digital purchases take up nearly 80% of full-game sales for PS5 & PS4 titles, which a huge increase considering this figure stood at 13% at the launch of PS4 back in late 2013.
Speaking recently, Hideaki Nishino, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment, stated “it is not realistic for us to absorb all component cost increases,” indicating the console maker is not looking to subsidise hardware at a loss ahead of the release of the PS6.
In wake of Sony’s plans to stop game disc production in January 2028, a number of companies have responded to the decision including iam8bit and GameFly, expressing their disappointment at the news. Furthermore, analyst firm Ampere has stated that the news also means that the PS6 is ‘almost guaranteed‘ to launch until 2028 at the very earliest.
Earlier his week, hardware leaker Kepler_L2 stated that the Bill of Materials for the PS6 has increased in the last few months, which means it now costs Sony nearly $1,000 to make the console. He also said that Sony should avoid delaying the new system despite the rise in memory costs, as prices would only rise as a result.
[Source – Investing]