The European Union is unable to prevent Sony from discontinuing physical game discs for PlayStation consoles, according to an EU Commissioner. Michael McGrath, the European Commissioner for consumer protection, stated that the bloc cannot intervene as companies possess commercial and contractual freedoms to provide games and services as they deem appropriate, as long as consumer rights are upheld under national and EU law.
This statement comes amidst significant backlash from gamers concerning Sony's decision to cease releasing new PS5 games on physical discs starting in January 2028, a transition expected to continue with the PlayStation 6. A petition urging Sony to reconsider this move has garnered nearly 300,000 signatures, and some PlayStation Plus subscribers have publicly canceled their subscriptions.
Concerns about ownership and game preservation have fueled the opposition. Previously, the European Commission indicated it could not legally mandate the continued availability of video games after their commercial support ends, citing existing intellectual property rights that grant rights holders exclusive control over their creations. However, the Commission did commit to engaging with the games industry and consumer representatives to develop an industry code of conduct for managing the "end of life" for video games.
Industry analysts believe that online protest alone is unlikely to sway Sony's decision. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, suggested that even a significant number of PlayStation Plus cancellations would represent a minor impact for Sony, given its user base of over 120 million active users, with around 50 million subscribed to PlayStation Plus. Toto posited that a protest involving 500,000 cancellations, for example, would equate to only 1% of the subscription base, an insufficient number to force a change in strategy.
The shift to an all-digital future for new releases is financially advantageous for Sony. For first-party titles, Sony retains approximately 65% of the revenue from physical disc sales, with retailers and manufacturing costs accounting for the remainder. In contrast, digital sales through the PlayStation Store allow Sony to keep 100% of the revenue for first-party games. For third-party games, Sony's cut from digital sales is around 30%, compared to a licensing fee likely around 15% for physical copies.
Despite the impending shift, some upcoming titles are confirmed to still receive physical releases. Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that God of War Laufey will be available on disc, with a planned launch in 2027, and Insomniac Games has also confirmed that Marvel's Wolverine will be released physically.