Are PS5 discs going away?
What Sony has actually announced about physical PlayStation discs, and what it does and does not change.
Checked September 2026. This page states only what Sony has officially announced.
The short answer
Yes, for new games — from January 2028.
On 1 July 2026, Sony announced on the official PlayStation Blog that physical disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. From that point, new PlayStation releases will be digital only.
This is an announcement, not a rumour. But what it means is narrower than much of the reaction suggested, and the details matter.
What it does not change
Your existing discs keep working. Sony confirmed the change has no effect on games already released or released before the cutoff. Every disc you own remains playable, resellable and lendable.
Disc drives are not being removed. Sony did not say the PS5 will lose its optical drive. Existing disc consoles continue to function normally.
Nothing changes before 2028. New PlayStation games continue to be released on disc as normal through the end of 2027.
Retailers can still sell existing stock after the cutoff.
What it does change
From January 2028, newly released PlayStation games will not be manufactured on disc. Sony has said it will still sell games through physical retailers, but how — boxed codes, cards, something else — has not been detailed.
Over time, this reduces the supply of new discs entering the used market.
What it means for you practically
If you buy physical: nothing changes for well over a year. Games released up to the end of 2027 will still come on disc, and they will remain sellable and lendable afterwards.
If you are buying a console: a disc drive still has value — it plays every disc released before the change, and the entire existing catalogue of used games, which is enormous.
If you sell games back: that continues to work for every disc in circulation. We buy selected used games in cash, and within 10 days of purchase at a better value if the game is in excellent condition.
What has not been announced
Anything about the next PlayStation console. Sony has not announced a PS6 and said in May 2026 that no decision had been made on next-generation timing or pricing, so claims about whether a future console will have a disc drive are speculation.
We will update this page as Sony announces more. For anything time-sensitive, check the official PlayStation Blog, or ask us on 16280.