Sony may be reassessing its decision to discontinue PlayStation disc production, according to a report. Information surfaced from the YouTube tech-reporting channel Moore's Law is Dead, whose host, Tom, stated that Sony distributed a particularly extensive survey to developers.
This survey reportedly included questions designed to solicit feedback on the company's strategy for phasing out physical game sales, with one question framed as asking about any issues with how games are sold physically. The existence of this survey has not been independently verified, and Sony has not commented on the report.
The timing of this rumoured survey follows other industry reactions to Sony's disc-ending plans. Reports from Gamescom indicated a generally unfavorable response from industry professionals regarding the shift away from physical media. Public backlash has also been significant on social media platforms, prompting Sony to reportedly implement stricter internal guidelines for staff regarding the matter. Even long-time PlayStation collaborator Hideo Kojima publicly expressed his dismay, though his relationship with Sony had reportedly cooled by that point concerning his new game, Physint.
Sony initially announced in July that it would begin ending PlayStation disc production in early 2028, citing declining physical sales and the rise of digital distribution as primary drivers, characterized as changing "consumer preferences." This announcement generated backlash and confusion regarding the speed of the discontinuation. Sony later clarified that disc output would decrease by 10 percent in 2028, rather than dropping to only 10 percent of current levels. This distinction has raised questions about the future availability of physical releases for games slated for 2028 and beyond, such as The Witcher 4, for which CD Projekt Red has stated it has no control over physical edition decisions.
While a complete reversal of the discontinuation decision may be unlikely, the reported survey could potentially influence the pace at which Sony phases out physical media. The period before the official start of discontinuation in 2028 provides ample time for adjustments to these plans. It remains to be seen whether this means certain games will continue to be released on disc while others will not.