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

#691

Post by somenameforme » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 4:45 AM UTC

Jiro wrote: post #505

somenameforme wrote: post #331

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think this is really comparable at all. Sony is trying to kill off the used game market in hope of being able to coerce people into paying more. Steam is basically one giant used game market in that you get stuff constantly for 50-90% off. And pirating stuff off Steam is generally extremely trivial, so it's a largely coercion-free business-customer relationship, and I think that's a large part of why they're…

Prices on Steam are set arbitrarily. Getting things at "50-90% off" could just as well be described as sometimes getting them at normal price and otherwise getting them at 2-10 times normal price. It's not a used game market unless you can transfer it to other people an unlimited number of times without the original company getting a say.

I have no idea what world you're living in. No prices on Steam are anywhere near 2x the "normal" price, let alone 10x. Companies that set their prices to the typical MSRP are generally seen as largely out of touch (with Japanese companies being particularly renowned for this), let alone above MSRP.

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

#692

Post by sevenseacat » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 4:46 AM UTC

Looks like the PS5 will be the last Sony console I buy.

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

#693

Post by sevenseacat » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:02 AM UTC

MYEUHD wrote: post #281

fredoralive wrote: post #7

Well, I guess that answers the question of whether the PS6 will have an awkward snap on disc drive.

It will probably have one for backwards compatibility with ps4 and ps5 disc games

you think the PS6 will have physical backwards compatibility? oh you sweet summer child

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

#694

Post by pezezin » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:05 AM UTC

j45 wrote: post #248

0x457 wrote: post #241

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> You own the physical game. When it comes to consoles - you do not.

Are you saying physical discs can be disabled once the console and disc are in the hands of the owner?

You might own the disc, but what about the optical drive that has to read that disc? That is already happening with the 5th (PS1/SS/N64) and 6th generation (DC/PS2/GC/XB) consoles, the optical drives are dying and there are no proper replacements. Congratulations, you own the disc but you can't read it anymore.

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

#695

Post by m463 » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:10 AM UTC

mrandish wrote: post #298

Between DRM, DLC, mandatory connectivity and the end of physical media, the future will look back on this era as the 'dark age' of digital gaming history. Maintaining activation servers, cloud storage and digital delivery costs money. If it doesn't disappear when the title reaches EOL, it certainly does when the company is gone or shifts business models. And draconian copyright laws create legal jeopardy around orpha…

> We simply have no way to preserve games.

You can spend your money on GOG.com.

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

#696

Post by MindSpunk » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:21 AM UTC

dogwalker5000 wrote: post #627

lenerdenator wrote: post #493

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The writing has been on the wall for a decade now for gaming being a purely rental-driven, consumer-antagonistic segment of the software market. People have been talking about "walking away" for at least that long. The soles of those walking shoes are as thick and un-worn as they've ever been.

If you decide to buy into Sony’s future, make sure you do it with your eyes wide open. Unlike Valve who has never taken away what people have bought without a refund (to my knowledge), Sony doesn’t deserve that benefit of the doubt: https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/this-shoul...

Reminder that Valve's liberal refund policy only exists because they were sued by the Australian government.

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

#697

Post by zenlot » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:22 AM UTC

ectospheno wrote: post #578

lelandfe wrote: post #38

To illustrate why this is stupid, I will furnish two links to purchase Dark Souls 3 (PS4, 2016) Ebay, to buy: $11 + shipping[0] PS Store, to rent: $60[1] [0] https://www.ebay.com/itm/298370753624 [1] https://www.playstation.com/en-us/games/dark-souls-iii/

I already own Dark Souls 3 but were I to purchase it again I’d still pick PlayStation over eBay. Even at this price point. I get I’m not the average consumer but I have money and discs are annoying.

[dead]

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

#698

Post by tadfisher » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:24 AM UTC

lenerdenator wrote: post #493

dogwalker5000 wrote: post #452

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> they know consumers are trapped. Gaming is a luxury good. We can all just walk away.

The writing has been on the wall for a decade now for gaming being a purely rental-driven, consumer-antagonistic segment of the software market. People have been talking about "walking away" for at least that long. The soles of those walking shoes are as thick and un-worn as they've ever been.

I did it when OtherOS was removed. I have yet to miss any game I care about, and PCs have been a better investment overall.

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

#699

Post by mittensc » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:45 AM UTC

Uvix wrote: post #200

mittensc wrote: post #63

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> And the most relevant part is that you cannot transfer/sell a digital copy. EU or any other gov can pass a law to allow that and we'll have the option.

Or they’ll just stop “selling” copies in those territories and only allow short-term rentals or monthly subscription services.

They can try, they'll also lose out on money and have piracy to contend to.

Governments can still force them to sell same as rest of the world or have them pack their bags and leave.

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

#700

Post by mittensc » Thu, Jul 02, 2026, 5:48 AM UTC

gunsle wrote: post #462

tialaramex wrote: post #242

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the EU's backstop "Fuck Trump" options is to stop enforcing America's IP rights. Maybe this USB stick full of MCU movies isn't the highest possible quality and two of the Thor movies are missing for some reason, however it cost less than €20, so who cares ? Oh it's illegal ? Well my government said they don't give a shit about that until you get rid of the orange lunatic In a world where American media compani…

[flagged]

What's there to like about Trump?

And how do those compare against all the negative things he's done/caused so far?