Michael McGrath
Reporting and statements that mention Michael McGrath.
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EU can't stop Sony going digital-only as God Of War Laufey confirmed for 2027
An EU commissioner stated that the European Union cannot prevent Sony from phasing out physical game discs by 2028, provided consumer rights are protected. Despite industry backlash and petitions, Sony is proceeding with its digital-only strategy, with the PlayStation 6 likely built around this shift. However, Santa Monica Studio has confirmed that God of War Laufey will receive a physical release in 2027, making it one of the last first-party disc-based PlayStation 5 games.
EU admits it cannot stop Sony killing physical discs – "companies are free to offer games and services in the manner that they see fit"
The European Union has stated it cannot prevent Sony from discontinuing physical game discs for PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, citing commercial freedoms. Despite a petition with over 286,000 signatures, EU consumer protection commissioner Michael McGrath confirmed that companies are free to offer games and services as they see fit, provided consumer rights are protected.
Commissioner says the EU can't stop Sony from ending physical games: "Companies are free to offer games and…
An EU commissioner stated that companies are free to decide how they offer games, implying that Sony's decision to cease production of physical game discs by 2028 is within their commercial rights. This statement comes as collectors and preservationists rally against the move, but it suggests legal intervention is unlikely. Analysts predict Sony will not reverse its decision, with future consoles like the PlayStation 6 potentially omitting disc drives entirely.
European Commission aims to facilitate code of conduct for managing "end of life" for games following Stop Killing Games petition
The European Commission will facilitate a discussion between the games industry and consumers to create a code of conduct for managing the end-of-life for video games, following a petition signed by 1.3 million people. While unable to legally mandate game preservation due to intellectual property rights, the EC will raise awareness of existing EU consumer laws that provide remedies for digital content and services no longer available as contracted.
