Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation • Hacker News Board

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#271

Post by mikestew » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:01 PM UTC

pcl wrote: post #225

everdrive wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think blu-ray will live for quite a while, but will be a bit like vinyl; there will be a consistent, niche market.

Why is that? Vinyl has some unique characteristics. But as far as I’m aware, blu-ray is just a storage format for bits, so other than the box art, what is compelling about a blu-ray pressing?

Ever compare a Blu-ray to the same content over streaming? It's not even close. Unlike vinyl records, Blu-ray is vastly superior in quality to alternatives.

In case you're asking "why", it's because your "4K" stream is compressed to hell and back. Your home internet connection doesn't even have the bandwidth to stream the quality of a BR.

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#272

Post by arm » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:01 PM UTC

criddell wrote: post #205

CM30 wrote: post #165

Well, if Nintendo and Microsoft go the same route (and sadly, I see that being almost inevitable at some point), that's probably the end of my interest in gaming as a whole. I generally refuse to 'rent' or 'license' things on a temporary basis, and have decided in this generation that every game I'll get for Switch 2 will be a physical game on cart version, without exception. And the reasons for that are pretty simpl…

I'm guessing you know this already, but I thought it's worth saying - some Switch 2 carts only contain a game key and not the actual game. https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/...

Even that Nintendo Switch 2 Game-Key Card implementation still works better for parent’s game reselling use case (for a limited time) than outright removing the physical media option as Sony is doing.

From the link you posted:

“Game-key cards are different from regular game cards, because they don’t contain the full game data. Instead, the game-key card is your "key" to downloading the full game to your system via the internet.

After it’s downloaded, you can play the game by inserting the game-key card into your system and starting it up like a standard physical game card. An internet connection is only required when you launch the game for the first time. After this, the game can be started even without an internet connection. However, like regular physical software, the game-key card must be inserted into the system in order to play the game. A Nintendo Account is not required to download the game data.”

So lending and reselling game-key cards is still possible in the same way as physical media… at least until Nintendo’s servers stop serving the game, heh.

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#273

Post by raro11 » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:02 PM UTC

jwitthuhn wrote: post #260

MrGilbert wrote: post #247

This will hopefully backfire. As soon as there are no more physical copies of games available, Sony will run into the same situation that Apple is currently, which will make them a Gatekeeper in the EU. That will eventually mean that they need to open their platform for third-party-vendors. But, yeah. It will be bad for a few years at least, I'm afraid.

Why would physical copies matter for this? All physical games have to be signed by Sony anyways so it's not like a third-party can produce them.

They'll be forced to embed alternative stores in the PlayStation.

I won't wait for it though. After 28 years of always having a Sony at home, it ends here for me at the age of 35.

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#274

Post by 1-6 » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:02 PM UTC

hootz wrote: post #268

1-6 wrote: post #265

I wonder why Sony or Microsoft don't try to 'game' the used market by becoming the used marketplace for virtual copies. They can charge a commission for every game that changes hands.

Why would someone ever buy new, if that was the case?

I'm sure they can think of some things to make new copies a differentiator such as DLC's and perks in game.

Also, 'new games' eventually get discounted as the title gets old. It's one way of keeping money in the game store ecosystem constantly changing hands.

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#275

Post by estebank » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:02 PM UTC

pcl wrote: post #225

everdrive wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think blu-ray will live for quite a while, but will be a bit like vinyl; there will be a consistent, niche market.

Why is that? Vinyl has some unique characteristics. But as far as I’m aware, blu-ray is just a storage format for bits, so other than the box art, what is compelling about a blu-ray pressing?

The movie itself is generally encoded at a higher bitrate than what you can find in streaming or torrents.

The media includes bonus features that generally aren't available in streaming or torrents.

The media will not suddenly stop existing if some server breaks down, some company goes under or some contract expires.

The movie will not suddenly get "patched" with an AI-upscale or censored scene one day while watching it.

You can lend the media to someone else to watch without having to ask for permission to anyone else.

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#276

Post by pimlottc » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:03 PM UTC

3D30497420 wrote: post #230

dylan604 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't imagine content owners wanting the physical media to continue any longer than they can get away with. The control they have from digital only must make them feel so powerful. At least as long as everyone continues to buy into their DRM systems. I've recently looked into purchasing a dedicated 4K Blu-ray player to start building a disc collection again. I'm assuming there's some pretty decent deals in the used…

I do this. I'll buy used disks and rip them to a personal media server. It works great. A friend actually created an eBay bot which monitors listings of disks he wants and will automatically buys them. The ripping part is a bit annoying and time-consuming though. Ironically, it would probably be easier to buy a disk then download a file rather than ripping.

> Ironically, it would probably be easier to buy a disk then download a file rather than ripping.

This is basically what mp3.com tried to do: treat the physical (music) disc as a license key that gives you access to a digital copy online. Sadly, the courts did not agree with their interpretation of copyright law.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UMG_Recordings,_Inc._v._MP3.co....

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#277

Post by postexitus » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:03 PM UTC

hootz wrote: post #268

1-6 wrote: post #265

I wonder why Sony or Microsoft don't try to 'game' the used market by becoming the used marketplace for virtual copies. They can charge a commission for every game that changes hands.

Why would someone ever buy new, if that was the case?

Maybe introduce virtual scratches? Or like maybe blur the textures a bit every time it's played?

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#278

Post by asveikau » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:03 PM UTC

nottorp wrote: post #127

asimovDev wrote: post #102

Earlier quoted context omitted.

in europe it's often cheaper to buy a game new in box from the retailer than from the PS Store. Not for long maybe. I will mourn the loss of physical games as they are such a big part of console experience

I am in Europe but I just don't do launch prices on any platform or delivery form so I didn't notice that. Obligatory xkcd: https://xkcd.com/606/

Off topic, XKCD should put the original publication date on the page. This one references specific years, and I could tell it's from 2009 after thinking about it, but doesn't hit the same way.

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#279

Post by postexitus » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:03 PM UTC

r0ckarong wrote: post #32

Most games with retail copies drop in price soon after the hype window is over. They stay full launch retail price in the PSN store unless there is a "sale". Anti-consumerism at its finest.

Ok great don't buy them in digital form so Sony learns a lesson?

Re: Physical disc production ending in Jan 2028 for new games on PlayStation

#280

Post by throwaway27448 » Wed, Jul 01, 2026, 5:04 PM UTC

pcl wrote: post #225

everdrive wrote: post #198

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think blu-ray will live for quite a while, but will be a bit like vinyl; there will be a consistent, niche market.

Why is that? Vinyl has some unique characteristics. But as far as I’m aware, blu-ray is just a storage format for bits, so other than the box art, what is compelling about a blu-ray pressing?

Many of vinyl's unique characteristics are severe drawbacks compared to digital disks. I see a lot of kids collecting CDs instead—cheaper, lighter, easier to maintain, you can find cars that play them pretty easily, you can rip them losslessly, more hardware to play them, etc. Plus you can a lot of the same benefits of album art, lyrics, etc.

Blu-Rays also have special features, which most streaming platforms don't offer (I think largely except for iTunes).