First, satellite television became obsolete. Then, top phone manufacturers removed headphone jacks and user-replaceable batteries. Now, gaming companies are ceasing the production of physical discs. These moments occurred across different industries, but one thing remains constant: limiting consumers in what they can own, access, and use.
Did Sony Just Kill The Physical Gaming Market?
Sony announced on July 1, 2026, that it will stop producing physical PlayStation game discs starting in January 2028. The tech company will significantly reduce manufacturing costs by eliminating disc production, which has led some consumers to assume that those savings will contribute to lower game prices. However, based on recent retail market patterns, it’s more wishful thinking than a realistic expectation.
When inflation cools or major supply disruptions pass, consumers may expect spiked prices to return to lower levels, or at least fall in some capacity. As seen in grocery stores, restaurants, clothing stores, and other retailers over the last few years, that has not been the case. Prices across various consumer markets that the U.S. is used to seeing mostly haven’t been back since, and Sony likely isn’t going to be the company that becomes an outlier.
The End of Physical Discs Is Already Appearing in Top Games
Video game publisher Rockstar Games is releasing the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto XI on November 19, 2026. However, this will be the first GTA game with no physical disc version. The digital-only game has a starting price of $79.99 for the Standard Edition and $99.99 for the “Ultimate” Edition. Those prices are steep compared to the $50-$60 price range for top games in the early 2020s. And with no disc version, there’s less space for potential discounts at third-party retailers.
Speaking of third-party retailers, who’s to say Sony won’t just sell its games exclusively on the PlayStation Store and cut out third-party sales? The company could make the excuse to cease selling physical copies of digital codes for games for cost-efficiency reasons. GameStop and smaller game stores would unfortunately be devastated, as they’re already taking a hard hit with this recent news. However, if Sony sold all its games exclusively on its online store, they wouldn’t have to worry about competitive discounted prices on other physical and online platforms, including Amazon. This would create a huge problem for consumers, where Sony gets to choose prices on games, and there is no other option to purchase a game, with the used game market being completely wiped out.
Microsoft and Nintendo May Follow the Same Path
In the smartphone market, Apple was one of the first companies to remove headphone jacks, expandable storage, and user-replaceable batteries (though that may soon change). While it was critically acclaimed, many thought Samsung and Google would never do such a thing with their smartphones. Eventually, both companies followed suit and removed all of those features from their more recent flagship smartphone models. Thus, while Sony is deservedly facing backlash for its decision to cease selling physical game discs, Microsoft and Nintendo will likely eventually follow, even if it takes years for it to happen.