Sony will still make physical discs after 2028, but only for games released before then

Sony has provided further details on its decision to phase out physical game discs, a move that sparked widespread backlash from gamers. According to Game File, Sony shared a private message with PlayStation developers and publishers, stating that they "will still be able to place re-orders for existing PlayStation disc games."

A previous Sony blog post noted that the discontinuation of physical discs would have "no impact on games that already released, or will be releasing, prior to January 2028 in disc format." However, the latest report clarifies that publishers can continue ordering physical versions of their PlayStation games as long as they were released before the cutoff date.

Game File reports that Sony said its ordering process for discs will change, but did not yet detail how. This is expected, as Sony has reportedly already invested millions of dollars into repurposing its disc factory in Salzburg, Austria to manufacture optical microlenses instead.

Game File also noted that Sony told publishers it will "provide publishers with the opportunity to release new games at retail using digital codes," though specifics remain undisclosed. While this addresses concerns about gamers being limited to Sony's online store ecosystem, the overall loss of physical discs is still expected to have major implications for the industry.