Sony announced that PlayStation game disc support will end in January 2028, as the company shifts toward a fully digital distribution model. The move follows a steady rise in digital game sales and reflects Sony’s aim to improve profitability and maintain control over the distribution chain. Rhys Elliott, an analyst at Alinea Analytics, said the change would eliminate resale and rental value that currently benefits retailers and third‑party sellers, converting those transactions into direct digital purchases or eliminating them. He noted that physical retail pricing is influenced by supply and demand, which can result in lower prices for used games compared with digital prices on the PlayStation store. By removing discs, consumers would lose the ability to purchase used copies, potentially reducing flexibility for price‑sensitive buyers. Elliott also argued that developers could gain from an earlier “gold master” certification process, allowing a finished build to be submitted up to three months before launch, though this may shift development focus toward compliance tasks rather than final polishing. He suggested that broader adoption of an all‑digital policy could further pressure brick‑and‑mortar retailers, citing Rockstar’s upcoming GTA 6 as a title that will be offered with a download code rather than a physical disc. Other companies, including Nintendo, Capcom and EA, have also increased the share of digital sales in recent years. GameStop’s software segment, the smallest part of its business, may experience limited immediate effects from the announcement.