“Piracy is the only extant form of media preservation”: Sony killing discs just proved video game historians correct, and I worry about what’s next
Sony announced it will end physical disc production by 2028, making the PlayStation 6 a digital-only console. Reports indicate Microsoft is similarly moving away from disc drives in its next-generation console.
Concurrently, Sony confirmed it will shut down the PS3 and PS Vita digital storefronts as early as August 2026 in some regions. Once these storefronts close, any games that haven’t been downloaded will become effectively lost, highlighting a critical preservation problem.
The timing of these announcements has alarmed gaming historians and preservationists, who have long warned about the risks of digital-only distribution. Without physical media ownership, games depend entirely on companies maintaining digital infrastructure indefinitely—something the industry itself is proving unreliable. As physical media disappears and digital storefronts close, historically important games risk becoming inaccessible.
The industry’s moves validate concerns that gaming historians have raised for years: piracy may become the most reliable method for preserving games long-term, as preserved copies exist independently of corporate storefronts. The implications extend to next-generation hardware, suggesting a future where game preservation depends entirely on corporate goodwill.