Sony Interactive Entertainment reiterated on its official Japanese blog that new PlayStation games released starting in January of 2028 will be sold only as digital downloads. The notice marks a change for upcoming releases, but it does not mean that discs players already own will stop working.
The company specifies that downloads will be sold through PlayStation Store and other retailers. It also clarifies that disc-based games released before January of 2028 can still be used: the distinction is between how new releases will be sold and the use of the existing physical catalog.
The reminder appears in an announcement for a PS5 Digital Edition Midnight Black exclusive to Japan, scheduled to launch on 19 in November 2026. It will cost 55,000 yen, including tax, and have an 825 GB SSD. It is limited to use in Japan, with the console language set to Japanese and a PlayStation account configured for that country.
Although that console does not include a disc drive, Sony will release a separate Midnight Black disc drive on the same day. Installing it will make it possible to play physical games; an internet connection will be required to pair the drive with the PS5. This means the new hardware retains a way to use discs while the company maintains its digital transition schedule for new releases.
