In 2013, executives at PlayStation mocked Microsoft’s decision to limit digital game sharing on the Xbox One. Now, 13 years later, Sony has just announced that it would cease production of physical PlayStation games starting in 2028. Fans revisiting the jokey video can’t help but fixate on the irony of it all in 2026. The company that once boasted about embracing physical games is now doing away with them altogether.
“I KNEW this would eventually age poorly,” reads a new top-voted comment on the old video.
“When you live long enough to become the villain,” another wrote.
Despite the humor, PlayStation and video game fans alike are responding to the news with a mix of anger, disbelief, and concern. Sony recently reported that 85% of its fourth quarter PlayStation 5 game sales are digital, a statistic that backs up the idea that a digital-only future reflects customer preferences. The timing of the announcement couldn’t have been worse, however.
The last year has been a non-stop torrent of bad news for gamers. Some of that news has little to do with Sony: the gaming industry as a whole is arguably in the middle of an existential crisis. However, some of those bad tidings, like massive layoffs at Bungie and the shuttering of Destiny 2 updates, can’t be untangled from Sony.
Pulling back further, fans are dealing with increased prices thanks to component shortages driven by AI demand. Consoles like the PS5 have seen multiple price increases — and there may be more ahead. Storage for games now costs more than consoles did a few years ago. Prices for games aren’t necessarily going up, but GTA 6 might’ve helped mainstream acceptance for $100 games (or at least more expensive ones). And a month ago, Sony announced that the pricing for its gaming subscription service was going up.
Video game fans are repeatedly being squeezed for more money, but the medium’s increasing reliance on digital sales means that hobbyists own less than ever.
“This is a sad day,” one PS5 fan wrote on the console’s subreddit. “I don’t care if you collect physical games or not.”
“Pray you never get banned,” another wrote. “There goes your library.”
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