Table of Contents
Sony’s decision to stop releasing new PlayStation games on physical discs starting in January 2028 has sparked weeks of backlash from fans. Since the announcement, PlayStation’s social media posts have regularly been flooded with comments criticizing the move, with many players arguing that there is still strong demand for physical games. However, new sales figures suggest the situation may not be quite as straightforward.
According to Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, physical PlayStation game sales in the United States have remained relatively modest despite the online protests. While many players continue to voice their frustration across social media, the latest retail data indicates that physical game sales are no longer reaching the levels they once did.
Are physical sales good enough for PlayStation to take notice?
Piscatella revealed that, during the week ending July 11, 2026, only two PlayStation games sold more than 10,000 physical copies in the United States. Looking at the year as a whole, only seven PlayStation games have managed to surpass 100,000 physical copies sold. The analyst later clarified that these figures include all PlayStation platforms, all publishers, and all PlayStation games, rather than only Sony’s first-party releases.
Latest tech deals.
- AMD Ryzen™ 9 9900X 12-Core - was $499 now $331
- Sony INZONE M10S 27-inch - was $899 now $748
- Thermaltake LCGS View i1470S-170 - was $2,399 now $2,099
- Apple 2026 MacBook Air - was $1,999 now $1,891
- Bose QuietComfort Headphones - was $359 now $169
- LG 77-inch OLED C6 - was $2,499 now $1,999
- MSI Prestige 16 Flip - was $2,149 now $1,870
- Hisense 85-inch U6 Pro Series - was $1,999 now $997
Prices correct as of November 5th, 2026.
While the numbers may surprise some players, they also help explain why Sony has been steadily moving toward an increasingly digital-focused strategy. The company has already reported that digital purchases account for the overwhelming majority of software sales. During the previous fiscal year, roughly 78% of PlayStation software sales were digital, with that figure climbing to 85% during the fourth quarter. Since the big disc-less announcement, Sony hasn’t publicly commented on the backlash it faces.
That doesn’t necessarily mean physical games are unpopular everywhere, though. The data shared by Circana only covers the United States, where digital purchases have become especially common. Other regions, including parts of Europe, South America, and Japan, continue to have stronger demand for physical games. In some markets, limited broadband access and a well-established retail presence still make physical copies an attractive option for many players. Brick-and-mortar stores, such as GAME Spain, said they will continue to support physical media.
Even so, the data suggests that the number of players actually buying physical games may be much smaller than the volume of online discussion would indicate. While PlayStation’s YouTube videos and social media posts continue to receive thousands of comments criticizing the company’s decision, those reactions don’t necessarily translate into strong physical game sales.
It should be about more than sales
We all know that digital sales trump physical sales, and that’s unlikely to ever change at this point – but there’s much more to consider with this whole situation. PC game store GOG made a good point about how digital ownership should be around the time of Sony’s initial announcement – DRM-free and always available in your library, even if it disappears from the digital store.
Physical media doesn’t vanish into thin air, and with GOG, you can always burn the files onto a disc yourself if you really want to. PC gamers have been enjoying digital-only games for well over a decade (it has been more than two decades since Steam launched), and the platform enjoys a healthy amount of competition from alternative launchers – the PlayStation Store is the opposite.
Once PlayStation goes all-digital, there will be no alternative stores, and you’re at the mercy of Sony’s first-hand prices. So, it’s much more about ownership, video game preservation, competitive pricing, and resale value. Of course, collectors would also love to have a physical copy with a disc to add to their collection, too.
Written by
