Despite outrage at Sony’s shift towards a discless future, only seven PlayStation games have managed more than 100,000 physical sales in the US this year

Sony’s decision to discontinue physical disc production for new PlayStation games starting January 2028 has sparked significant backlash from the gaming community. However, recent sales data reveals the business reality behind the company’s shift toward digital-only distribution.

According to Mat Piscatella, Senior Director at analyst firm Circana, physical game sales for PlayStation have become increasingly minimal in the United States. Year-to-date through July 2026, only seven PlayStation games have managed to sell more than 100,000 physical copies in the US market. The situation is even more stark when examining recent weekly data: in the week ending July 11, 2026, just two PlayStation titles surpassed 10,000 physical units sold.

The dramatic decline in physical sales directly supports Sony’s rationale for the format shift. The company stated that the decision responds to “shifting trends in consumer preference” toward digital releases and digital storefronts. This data, while focusing on the US market alone, illustrates the substantial dominance of digital distribution in the current gaming landscape.

Despite the apparent justification provided by sales figures, industry observers acknowledge that consumer concerns about the format discontinuation remain valid. The stark contrast between the level of community outrage and the minimal commercial viability of physical games underscores the evolving nature of video game distribution in 2026.

Sources

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