From TechRadar · · 1m 30s
Sony's last disc plant isn't dying yet
A misread number sparked panic about PlayStation discs, and the real figure tells a much calmer story.
In brief
A misread number sparked panic about PlayStation discs, and the real figure tells a much calmer story. Physical PlayStation games are shrinking slowly, not vanishing: new production stops in January 2028, but discs already made stay on shelves. Originally reported by TechRadar.
Sony says no
Reports claimed Sony was walking away from disc manufacturing entirely. Sony denied it, and pointed at the actual numbers instead.
Ten percent, not ninety
The last remaining plant will cut output by 10%. The widely reported figure was 90%, which would have meant near shutdown.
One word did the damage
A Sony DADC executive predicted a decline by 10 percent. Observers read it as a decline down to 10 percent, and the panic ran for two months.
“Dietmar anticipated an overall product volume decline by 10 percent, not a decline down to 10 percent”
2028 still stands
New physical game production ends in January 2028 regardless. The correction changes the slope, not the deadline.
Thalgau keeps running
The Austrian plant will operate at close to full capacity past the 2028 cutoff. Sony stayed quiet on whether its 300 staff are being retrained for microlens work.
Reorders keep shelves full
Publishers can keep reordering existing disc games after new production stops, so the games you can buy today stay buyable for a while.
You still may not own it
Sony recently argued in court that buyers cannot reasonably believe they own their games, since copies exist in multiple places. That doubt outlives the disc.
The big picture
Physical PlayStation games are shrinking slowly, not vanishing: new production stops in January 2028, but discs already made stay on shelves.
