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Sony will initiate a definitive transition to digital games in January 2028, as it prepares the gradual closure of the PlayStation Store on older consoles.
A historic change will hit the video game market in the coming years. Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on July 1, 2026, that it will stop producing physical discs for all new games released on PlayStation consoles starting January 2028.
According to information released by the company itself, releases will be available to the public exclusively in digital format. Consumers will be able to purchase titles through the PlayStation Store and also from authorized retailers.
The decision accompanies a transformation in consumer behavior. During the fiscal year 2025, digital downloads accounted for approximately 80% of Sony’s full game sales.
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The change will not affect previously released titles. Games with disc versions already scheduled for dates prior to January 2028 will also remain outside the new rule.
Sony prepares the end of physical discs on PlayStation
Starting January 2028, Sony will make all new games for PlayStation consoles available only in digital versions.
The traditional format, sold in boxes and played via discs, will no longer accompany future platform releases.
Sony stated that consumers will continue to find games on the PlayStation Store. Retailers will also be able to sell the titles, but only in digital formats.
The rise of online purchases directly influenced this decision. In the fiscal year 2025, eight out of ten full games sold by the company reached consumers via download.
The change will not cause the immediate disappearance of discs currently available. Titles released before the deadline may continue in the market, depending on availability.
The new policy will also not affect games that already have physical versions scheduled for dates before the start of 2028.
PlayStation Store for PS3 will begin to close in 2026
The change involving discs will occur alongside the closure of the PlayStation Store on older devices.
The process will begin in August 2026. During this period, Sony will close the digital store for the PS3 in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Other countries in Latin America and the Middle East will undergo the same process later in 2026.
The company foresees the final stage for July 2027. On this date, Sony will close the PS3 and PS Vita stores in all remaining markets.
The two consoles are between 15 and 20 years old. According to Sony, these devices no longer offer compatibility with the secure payment systems of the PlayStation Network.
Previously purchased games will remain available
The closure of the stores will prevent the purchase of new games and digital content directly on the PS3 and PS Vita.
However, users will continue to access and download previously acquired content for a period considered foreseeable by the company.
The timeline presented by Sony establishes four main moments:
- August 2026: Sony will close the PS3 store in Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua;
- Later in 2026: the closure will reach other markets in Latin America and the Middle East;
- July 2027: the company will close the PS3 and PS Vita stores in other countries;
- January 2028: Sony will end physical discs for new PlayStation releases.
Thus, Sony will gradually complete the migration of new games to the digital format. At the same time, the company will reduce commercial support offered to older consoles.
