UK retail group slams PlayStation’s decision to stop making discs

The UK trade group representing physical and digital entertainment sales has sharply criticized Sony’s plan to discontinue disc versions of PlayStation games, calling the move a blow to consumer rights and retail health.

Sony confirmed earlier this month that it will halt production of physical discs for all PlayStation 5 games starting in January 2028. After that date, only titles released in 2027 or earlier will be eligible for disc reprints. The decision has drawn swift condemnation from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) , which describes itself as “championing the retailers and digital services who connect music, video and games creators with UK fans.” The ERA’s remarks were first reported by The Game Business.

“PlayStation’s announcement that major games will no longer be available on disc is a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice,” said CEO Kim Bayley in a statement.

Bayley emphasized the continued value of physical media. “Every year, millions of gamers still choose to buy physical copies because they value true ownership. A disc can be shared with family, traded in, collected, preserved and, crucially, still played years from now. A download licence often offers none of those freedoms.”

According to the ERA, whose partners include Game, HMV, Asda, and Morrisons, consumer data shows that a quarter of buyers under 25 still purchase discs. The total disc-based games market in the UK was valued at over £300 million last year, “demonstrating that there remains a substantial and committed audience for boxed games.”

“Retailers see this demand every day,” Bayley added. “Physical games continue to bring people into shops and give consumers real value through gifting, collecting and resale. The industry should be embracing every legitimate way consumers want to buy games, not narrowing their choices.”

She argued that digital distribution, while popular, should enhance rather than replace physical formats. “Consumers deserve the freedom to choose how they buy their entertainment. Removing discs doesn’t represent progress – it simply removes choice. That’s bad for gamers, bad for retailers and ultimately bad for the long-term health and preservation of our games industry.”

The criticism follows a statement from EU Commissioner Michael McGrath last week, who said that Sony and other game companies cannot be legally stopped from abandoning physical discs in favor of a digital-only future. McGrath, the EU commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, explained that companies are free to distribute games in any format they choose, provided they comply with existing laws.

Despite a petition urging Sony to reverse its decision, which has now gathered 300,000 signatures, the company’s largest production facility in Austria is already pivoting away from disc manufacturing. Sony has invested roughly €30 million in new equipment designed for producing optical microlenses, and staff training for the transition is already underway.