EU admits it cannot stop Sony killing physical discs – “companies are free to offer games and services in the manner that they see fit”

Sony announced on July 1st that it will discontinue physical game disc releases for PlayStation. Starting January 2028, all new games released on PlayStation consoles—including third-party titles—will be digital-only, though retail will still offer code-in-the-box options. This decision has sparked significant backlash from gamers, with a “Don’t Kill the Disc” Change.org petition quickly accumulating over 286,000 signatures.

In response to concerns about consumer rights and digital ownership, the European Union stated it cannot intervene in Sony’s business decision. An EU official clarified that “companies are free to offer games and services in the manner that they see fit,” emphasizing that the decision comes down to commercial and contractual freedoms. The EU’s position effectively confirms that game publishers and platform holders have the right to determine their distribution methods without regulatory restriction.

The move has generated considerable online activism from gamers concerned about digital ownership preservation and game accessibility. The shift to all-digital distribution is expected to continue on the upcoming PlayStation 6 console.

EU admits it cannot stop Sony killing physical discs – “companies are free to offer games and services in the manner that they see fit”

Sources