Sony's decision to cease manufacturing new physical PlayStation game discs after 2028 will proceed without intervention from the European Union, according to an EU commissioner. Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, stated that companies retain the freedom to determine how they offer products and services, provided they comply with existing laws and protect consumer rights.
This clarification addresses hopes that the EU might step in to prevent the industry's continued shift toward digital-only distribution. While Sony's move marks a significant step towards an all-digital future for PlayStation, McGrath indicated that such commercial decisions fall outside the scope of EU regulatory power. "It does come down to commercial and contractual freedoms," McGrath told reporters at the European Parliament, "And companies are free to offer games and services in the manner that they see fit, provided that consumer rights are fully protected in line with national and EU law."
The commissioner also referenced the EU Commission's stance on the "Stop Killing Games" movement. Previously, the Commission stated it could not mandate that game publishers maintain servers or offer backward compatibility for games once their online services are terminated. Instead, the EU indicated it would collaborate with the gaming industry to establish a code of conduct for game preservation.
For the foreseeable future, Sony's plan to transition away from physical media for new game releases appears to be on track, with the EU offering no regulatory impediments to this digital-first strategy.