Not backing down: Sony warns new PlayStation console buyers
Sony will not abort its mission.
Image by Wongsakorn 2468 | Shutterstock
- Sony is warning new PlayStation buyers that newly released games will be digital-only from January 2028.
- The reported stickers say older disc-based games will still work, but new releases will be sold digitally.
- Gamers have criticized the move, arguing digital purchases can be restricted or removed.
- Sony appears committed despite backlash, petitions, and wider concern over the future of physical game ownership.
Key Takeaways by nexos.ai, reviewed by Cybernews staff.
Sony is making sure gamers are aware of its controversial decision to move away from physical discs, with users reporting that new gaming console boxes now come with a warning notice.
The company received significant backlash after it revealed its PlayStation gaming consoles would be disc-less starting January 2028.
Despite criticism and even a petition urging it to reconsider, Sony seems determined to move forward with its decision.
So much so that it began warning its users about this change by placing stickers on new PlayStation consoles.
An account on X focusing on gaming, @BehindTGames, recently shared that boxes with PlayStation 5 consoles arrive at the stores with the following message:
“Important notice: from January 2028, newly released games on PlayStation will be available for purchase on PS Store and at retailers in digital format only. Discs for games released before January 2028 can continue to be played on this console.”
Could it be a fake message?
The post, which gained more than 270,000 views, soon sparked an online debate.
Some users even believed that the message was actually fake.
“What a shame, because it would be great if it were in large print, but it looks fake, the square is crooked with the logos on top, plus I think today's boxes no longer show the 120fps thing,” wrote one user.
The gaming account then shared that the message is in fact real, adding:
“Notice to the skeptics: the original source of the photo is my Twitter post. It was passed on to me by a trusted source, and it is not fake.”
While some users were skeptical about the message, another user shared that they also received a similar notice from Sony when buying a new disk drive for their PS5 Pro.
“From Jan 2028, newly released games on PlayStation will be available for purchase on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital format only. Discs for games released before Jan 2028 can continue to be played on this console,” read the message.
I noticed a similar message when I bought a new disk drive for my PS5 Pro. They’re really doubling down.
undefined samuelrgreen (@samuelrgreen.bsky.social) 6 August 2026 at 00:52
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Is the gaming industry going against the wishes of its users?
Despite physical media going digital, Sony’s decision to remove discs starting in 2028 angered many users, prompting other brands to mock the company.
It’s been reported that the backlash against this decision even reached the point where users were petitioning against it.
However, Sony's subsequent actions only prove that it is sticking by its move, with the company already repurposing its plant in Thalgau, Austria, where workers will shift to producing optical microlenses.
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The reason users are so opposed to digital-only games is that this form of ownership can’t even be considered real, since the company can restrict users from accessing the content they paid for at any time.
The most recent examples include Sony removing 551 movies and TV shows from the PlayStation library due to licensing issues. This move leaves users without content and refunds.
Cybernews has reached out to Sony for additional comment.
