Sony Ends PlayStation Discs in 2028 While Its Austrian Factory Already Pivots to Microlenses
Sony has confirmed that all new PlayStation games will go digital-only after January 2028, backed by data showing 85 percent of full-game software sales were already digital in Q4 FY2025. The move strips consumers of resale and lending rights on new titles, draws sharp pushback from preservationists and specialty retailers, and is paired with a phased shutdown of PS3 and PS Vita digital stores. Meanwhile, Sony has already invested 30 million euros to retrain 300 workers at its Thalgau, Austria disc plant for optical microlens production, revealing a deliberate industrial pivot that predates the public announcement.