PlayStation 6: Sony prepares to launch exclusively digital console in 2028, abandoning physical media By Maria
2 min read
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Sony recently announced that physical PlayStation 5 titles, available from January 2028, will not come with a disc. This change offers a more defined overview of the Japanese company’s strategy for the future PlayStation 6.
Given this decision, the expectation is that the PlayStation 6 will hit the market in 2028 without a disc player. Following the line of the PS5 Pro, the console will be exclusively digital, and it is unlikely that Sony will make a disc drive accessory available for this new generation.
The reason for this change lies in Sony’s own policy, which does not plan to release physical media for the PS6. The company anticipates that players interested in PlayStation 5 titles will need to have them in digital format, purchase them digitally or simply preserve their PlayStation 5 consoles to access the current library.
Although the measure may seem drastic, Sony understands that backwards compatibility of games does not represent its main source of revenue. Even with Microsoft standing out for its robust compatibility program, this was not enough to boost sales of its consoles. For most consumers, it is attractive, but the company’s real profit comes from subscriptions and the sale of new software.
The possibility of Sony introducing a physical to digital game conversion system exists, but to date, no company has implemented something similar, even with rumors that Xbox is exploring this alternative. It is likely that Sony will evaluate the costs and benefits, concluding that the effort would not be worth the return.
The year 2028 as the likely launch date for the PlayStation 6 aligns with the current economic panorama, marked by the exponential increase in the price of memories and other components. By postponing the launch, Sony increases its chances of acquiring parts at more advantageous costs, especially if demand driven by artificial intelligence reduces.
Recent analyzes indicate that the production cost of the PlayStation 5 has already risen by US$200, and may have exceeded the US$1,000 mark. Considering Sony’s stance of avoiding losses on the sale of each console unit, the expectation is that the PlayStation 6 will be launched at a premium price and confirm the absence of a disc player.
