Sony May Delay Phasing Out PlayStation Discs: Rumor Linked to Xbox Move and Publisher Pressure

Sony Interactive Entertainment may adjust its timeline for fully phasing out physical game releases. According to European insiders at gamescom 2026, the previously announced deadline of January 2028 could be pushed back by one to two years. The potential review is reportedly driven by Microsoft’s unexpected strategy to retain a disc ecosystem as a competitive advantage for the next console generation.

gamescom Insiders and Xbox Competition

Information about the potential changes first surfaced on the podcast of Eurogamer’s Spanish edition. Journalists learned that industry representatives behind the scenes at the event actively discussed moving the cutoff for pressing PlayStation discs from late 2027 to 2029–2030.

As iXBT Games reports, Sony leadership fears handing its competitor a major trump card in attracting traditional gamers. Rumors suggest Microsoft’s upcoming console, codenamed Project Helix, will retain support for physical media.

Disc-to-Digital: Microsoft’s Hybrid Strategy

Adding fuel to the fire, the Redmond tech giant recently made an official announcement. In a post on Xbox Wire, Microsoft detailed its Disc-to-Digital technology, which lets owners of Xbox One and Series X physical editions convert a disc into a full digital license.

Key highlights of the feature include:

• support for cloud gaming (Xbox Cloud Gaming) and Play Anywhere cross-platform play;
• preserved ownership rights: the license remains tied to the physical disc, so selling the disc transfers digital rights to the new owner;
• a smooth transition path for gamers looking to bring physical collections to future platforms.

Publisher Pressure and The Witcher 4

Another reason for Sony’s potential maneuver is pushback from third-party studios. Unconfirmed reports from event chatter claim a major multiplatform partner threatened to launch its next flagship title exclusively on Xbox and Nintendo if PlayStation refuses to supply retail stores with physical disc runs.

While the company was not named, the situation is exemplified by Poland’s CD Projekt RED. Joint CEO Michał Nowakowski previously stated the studio aims to release a boxed version of The Witcher 4. However, a ban on disc manufacturing could turn a PlayStation release into a “code in a box”—an empty case with a collector’s booklet and a digital key instead of a disc.

Reality Check: Restructuring at Sony DADC in Austria

Despite the rumors, Sony’s official stance remains unchanged: its official PlayStation announcement states that disc production for new releases will end in January 2028.

Furthermore, the Japanese giant has already begun restructuring its physical facilities. According to VGC, Sony DADC’s main plant in Thalgau, Austria—which pressed up to 600,000 discs per day—invested roughly €30 million to retool production lines for optical microlenses. By 2028, optical disc manufacturing at the facility will drop to just 10% of current output.

While Sony could technically delay its deadline for going all-digital, reversing a multimillion-euro supply chain overhaul that is already underway would be difficult.