Story perspectives

EU Can't Stop Sony Dropping Physical PS Discs in 2028

7/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

The EU cannot block Sony Interactive Entertainment’s plan to end new physical PlayStation game discs starting January 2028.
EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath said the move reflects commercial and contractual freedom under EU consumer law.
A Change.org petition against the decision has gathered roughly 286,000-300,000 signatures and sparked #BoycottSony protests.
Analysts such as Dr. Serkan Toto argue that the backlash, including cancelled PS Plus subscriptions, will not alter Sony’s digital-first strategy.

History

Historical Context

Apple introduced the iTunes Store on April 28 2003 with 200,000 tracks, selling over a million songs in its first week and spurring a rapid shift from physical discs to digital music. The move away from physical media set a precedent that guided Sony Interactive Entertainment’s 2028 decision to end new PlayStation disc production, echoing the earlier digital-first pivot.

1 of 2

Story summary

The EU cannot block Sony Interactive Entertainment’s plan to end new physical PlayStation game discs starting January 2028.
EU Consumer Protection Commissioner Michael McGrath said the move reflects commercial and contractual freedom under EU consumer law.
A Change.org petition against the decision has gathered roughly 286,000-300,000 signatures and sparked #BoycottSony protests.
Analysts such as Dr. Serkan Toto argue that the backlash, including cancelled PS Plus subscriptions, will not alter Sony’s digital-first strategy.

1 / 2