PlayStation
Hardware, storefront and ecosystem news for PlayStation.
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FIFA Heroes is the Game of the Summer
FIFA Heroes, an arcade football game officially licensed by FIFA, has surpassed one million downloads and is being hailed as the Game of the Summer. The game has topped sports charts in the UK, Italy, France, and Australia, and became the number one overall app in Turkey. Daily player engagement remains high, with an average of 150,000 new users and 125,000 returning players each day.
Xbox sägs testa funktion för att digitalisera spelskivor
Xbox is reportedly testing a new feature that allows players to digitize their physical game discs, creating a digital license tied to the disc. This functionality is said to be limited to Xbox One and Xbox Series X games. The move comes as Sony plans to discontinue physical game releases on PlayStation consoles by 2028, raising questions about the future of physical media in gaming.
Evening Reading - July 1, 2026
This edition of Evening Reading covers several gaming news items, including patch notes for Mario Kart World, PlayStation's planned discontinuation of physical disc production in January 2028, and the reworking of the Endless Legend 2 dev roadmap. It also mentions Krafton's bonuses, Lethal Wedding hitting a Kickstarter goal, and a new Doom: The Dark Ages trailer. Additionally, the article touches on the shutdown of PS3 and PS Vita PlayStation Stores and a review of Rhythm Heaven Groove.
Physical media retailers respond to PlayStation's discontinuation of disc-based games
Sony has announced its decision to cease production of physical disc-based games for PlayStation consoles starting in January 2028. This move has drawn disappointment from physical media retailers like GameFly, Fangamer, and iam8bit, who emphasize the importance of physical media for ownership, preservation, and consumer choice. While GameStop and Limited Run Games have not yet commented, Sony cites shifting consumer trends for its decision, which may also suggest cost-cutting measures for future hardware.
Onimusha: Way of the Sword gets an earlier release date
Capcom has announced that Onimusha: Way of the Sword will now be released on September 4, 2026, moving up from its original late September date. This earlier release is available on PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch. Pre-order bonuses will be available as early adopter rewards until September 24.
Sony Will End Physical Disc Production for New PlayStation Games Starting January 2028
Sony Interactive Entertainment will cease physical disc production for all new PlayStation games starting January 2028, shifting exclusively to digital releases. This decision reflects a growing consumer preference for digital media over physical discs. Existing physical games and those released before the deadline will remain unaffected.
PlayStation’s Plan to Kill Physical Games is as Confusing as It Is Insulting
Sony Interactive Entertainment plans to phase out physical game discs for PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, exclusively offering digital versions. This decision, citing consumer trends and digital sales dominance, has sparked significant backlash due to concerns over digital ownership, game preservation, and potential monopolization of the market by the PlayStation Store. The move also follows the controversial shutdown of the PlayStation 3 and Vita storefronts, raising further questions about the future of accessing purchased digital content and the potential implications for future consoles like the PlayStation 6.
Nintendo is Unlikely to Follow in Sony’s Footsteps to End Physical Game Production, Says Analyst
Analyst Mat Piscatella believes Nintendo is unlikely to cease physical game production, unlike Sony's planned shift to digital-only by 2028. Piscatella suggests Nintendo will continue supporting physical media through at least the Nintendo Switch 2's lifecycle, citing the company's independent approach and reliance of retail outlets on its sales. This contrasts with Sony's move, which is expected to influence future consoles like the PlayStation 6 and Project Helix to be digital-only.
PlayStation Announcing the End of Physical Game Releases Resulted in Rise in Stock Prices
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced it will cease physical game releases for PlayStation consoles starting January 2028, a move that has coincided with a rise in its stock price. This transition aligns with market trends favoring digital purchases and the popularity of disc-less consoles like the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition. Analysts suggest this decision will also influence future console designs, potentially reducing manufacturing costs for the PlayStation 6.
Death Stranding Director is Afraid of the World Going Fully Digital After PlayStation’s Announcement
Hideo Kojima has expressed concerns about Sony's move towards digital-only game releases on PlayStation, fearing that individuals will lose ownership of their digital data. He cited the delisting of P.T. as an example of how digital content can become inaccessible. Kojima's new horror game, OD, is in development for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
Top 6 Best-Selling Games Of 2026, So Far
Alinea Analytics has released sales data for the first half of 2026, with Meccha Chameleon leading the charts with 13 million copies sold across PC, PlayStation, and Xbox. FC 26 and Resident Evil Requiem also showed strong performance, rounding out the top sellers.
Hideo Kojima's fears resurface as PlayStation ends physical games: "Eventually, even digital data will no longer be owned by individuals on their own initiative"
Hideo Kojima has voiced concerns about the shift to digital-only games, echoing sentiments from 2021 about the potential loss of ownership. He fears that access to digital media, including games, could be revoked due to global events or publisher decisions, citing the delisting of P.T. as a prime example of digital game unavailability.
Consoles continue their trend of just becoming worst PCs
The article argues that modern consoles like PlayStation and Xbox are becoming inferior versions of PCs, losing their unique advantages. Factors like the shift to digital-only, rising prices, and the diminishing value of exclusives are making PCs a more compelling and flexible gaming platform.
Downloading GTA 6 with the "hope it'll run in 50 years is not a preservation solution," Video Game History Foundation says as PlayStation kills discs
The Video Game History Foundation criticizes Sony's decision to end physical PlayStation disc production and close older digital stores, stating it poses challenges for game preservation. Director Frank Cifaldi argues that relying on piracy or physical media is insufficient for long-term preservation, especially for digital-only titles like Grand Theft Auto 6. He calls for the industry to provide legal solutions for archives to preserve digital content, as current copyright laws and industry opposition hinder these efforts.
Microsoft’s Reported Disc-To-Digital Xbox Plan Makes Sony’s Physical Media Exit Look Even Colder
Microsoft is reportedly testing a 'disc-to-digital' feature for Xbox, allowing players to convert physical game discs into digital downloads for certain titles. This move contrasts with Sony's reported exit from physical media for PlayStation in 2028 and aims to help preserve game libraries.
PlayStation to end physical disc production in 2028
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced that PlayStation will cease production of physical game discs in January 2028, shifting entirely to digital sales. This move aligns with consumer trends favoring digital distribution and follows similar strategies from Xbox and PC gaming. The decision raises concerns for physical media retailers and game preservation.
Xbox is reportedly considering dropping disc drives as it tests new feature that lets players digitize physical games
Xbox is reportedly exploring the possibility of removing disc drives from future consoles, similar to PlayStation's reported plans. Microsoft is testing a feature that would allow players to digitize their physical game collections for use on disc-less devices, though access may be revoked if the disc is shared or sold. This move could impact the playability of older Xbox titles.
Instead of putting its games on PC, Sony apparently wants to escape the reputation that "PlayStation equals the living room" by selling monitors and speakers
Sony is reportedly shifting its strategy away from solely focusing on the living room console experience, aiming to reach PC gamers through peripherals like monitors and speakers rather than exclusively through PC game releases. Executives discussed broadening usage scenarios and delivering unique value beyond hardware, while acknowledging potential for expansion beyond consoles, particularly for live service games.
“Profoundly Disappointed” Is This Company’s Response To Sony’s Decision To End Disc Support
iam8bit has expressed profound disappointment regarding Sony's decision to end support for physical PlayStation discs in 2028, emphasizing the importance of physical media for game preservation and consumer choice. Independent developer Aeternum Game Studios also pledged to continue releasing physical editions before the deadline. This move by Sony, alongside potential similar decisions from Microsoft, signals a significant shift away from physical game distribution.
PlayStation Will Stop Producing Disc-Based Games In 2028
Sony will cease production of disc-based games for PlayStation consoles by January 2028, shifting entirely to digital downloads and boxed codes. This decision reflects the declining sales of physical media in favor of digital distribution.