Lin Tao Confirms PlayStation Ends Discs in Jan 2028

Sony has confirmed that it plans to move away from disc-based PlayStation games starting January 2028, after CFO Lin Tao addressed the backlash during an investor meeting and reiterated that the company sees digital as the future.

Sony’s CFO: discs aren’t what differentiates PlayStation from PC

During the shareholder discussion, Sony’s Lin Tao said the decision was reached after “a lot of time and reflection,” stressing the company will proceed “with caution.” She also acknowledged that the community has strong opinions and that those views have been heard.

In the same remarks, Tao framed games as a form of entertainment tied to personal memories, adding that Sony wants to keep engaging players as it evolves toward a broader digital ecosystem.

Most notably for hardware and ownership concerns, Tao argued that the physical disc itself is not a major differentiator between PlayStation and PC. She described PC gaming as involving its own user workflow, and highlighted other areas Sony considers strengths: exclusive content, a stable gaming environment, and accessibility compared with high-end gaming PCs. She also suggested that, going forward, Sony expects to “coexist peacefully” with PC games.

Retail relationships and a potential “code in a box” direction

Sony’s comments also indicated that disc replacement could still preserve some relationship with regional retailers. Tao said there are regional characteristics and that Sony aims to maintain deep dialogue with local partners to reach outcomes that benefit both sides.

While Sony did not explicitly market a replacement format in the remarks, the company’s stated intent to continue working with retailers suggests that “code in a box” style releases could become the practical alternative to today’s physical format.

What to watch next for PlayStation players

January 2028: the targeted timeline for ending disc-based games.
Whether Sony defines and standardizes the “code in a box” approach for all regions and retailers.
How Sony plans to handle the long-term impact on used game markets and collectors.