The Video Games Most at Risk from PlayStation’s Physical Switch-Off

The video game industry faces a significant structural shift as PlayStation prepares to cease the manufacturing of physical game discs in January 2028. The primary objective for publishers is to manage this transition effectively, ensuring that consumers are educated and prepared for an exclusively digital marketplace within the next 18 months.

Analysis conducted by Ampere, utilizing unit sales data for PlayStation 5 titles through June 2026, reveals that physical distribution remains highly relevant for specific genres and regions. Family-oriented titles, such as Astro Bot, maintain strong physical sales, likely driven by gift-giving trends, while story-driven action-adventure games also retain a significant cohort of boxed-product buyers. Conversely, online-centric titles, shooters, and certain RPGs demonstrate a much higher propensity for digital adoption. Geographically, the transition is uneven; while the United States is heavily digital-centric, markets such as France, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Australia continue to show strong demand for physical retail.

To mitigate the risk of losing customers during this transition, publishers are encouraged to implement incentive programs that guide physical buyers toward digital platforms. Strategies include the use of digital code-in-a-box products to maintain a retail presence and the development of industry-wide best practices, with an expectation that Sony will provide support to protect its own software ecosystem. The ultimate goal is to ensure that by 2028, the entire PlayStation consumer base is both willing and technically capable of navigating an all-digital purchasing environment.