EU Regulator Says It Can’t Stop PlayStation’s Disc-Killing Move
▼ Summary
– Sony will stop releasing new PS5 games on physical discs from January 2028, sparking a backlash from gamers.
– The EU’s consumer protection commissioner said the EU cannot stop Sony because companies have commercial freedom to choose how to offer games.
– The European Commission also declined to propose a legal obligation to keep games playable after commercial support ends, citing intellectual property rights.
– Analysts say the online backlash, including petition signatures and subscription cancellations, will not force Sony to reverse its decision.
– Sony earns more profit from digital sales than physical, keeping 100% of revenue for first-party games versus about 65% from physical copies.
The European Union has acknowledged it lacks the legal authority to intervene in Sony’s decision to phase out physical game discs, leaving gamers frustrated and petitions largely symbolic. The move, which will see all new PS5 titles released from January 2028 go digital-only, has sparked a significant backlash among fans concerned about game ownership and preservation. A petition urging Sony to reverse course has nearly reached 300,000 signatures, while many PS5 users have posted screenshots of cancelled PS Plus subscriptions on social media.
Despite hopes that the EU’s strong consumer protection record could help, Ireland’s European Commissioner Michael McGrath confirmed the bloc cannot act. “It does come down to commercial and contractual freedoms,” he said, adding that companies are free to offer games as they see fit, as long as they comply with national and EU law. The European Commission also recently rejected a “Stop Killing Games” petition, citing existing intellectual property rights that prevent legal obligations to keep games playable after commercial support ends. However, the Commission plans to work with industry and consumer groups to develop a voluntary code of conduct for managing games at their “end of life.”
Analysts predict the online outrage will not force Sony to change course. Dr. Serkan Toto, CEO of Kantan Games, explained that even if 500,000 subscribers cancel PS Plus in protest, that represents just 1% of the service’s 50 million users. “Digital is just too lucrative,” he said, noting Sony anticipated the backlash and is waiting for it to fade. The financial incentive is clear: Sony keeps 100% of revenue from first-party digital sales via the PlayStation Store, compared to roughly 65% from physical copies. For third-party games, Sony earns a 30% cut on digital downloads versus just 15% from physical discs.
Amid the controversy, some developers are confirming physical releases for upcoming titles. Santa Monica Studio announced that God of War Laufey will be available on disc, likely launching in 2027, while Insomniac confirmed Marvel’s Wolverine will also see a physical release. These moves suggest that while Sony pushes toward an all-digital future, some major games will still offer disc-based options for the foreseeable future.
(Source: IGN)
