Investors liked it: Sony shares rose 7% after announcing the discontinuation of game discs

Sony's decision to stop producing new physical copies of PlayStation games from January 2028, despite a mixed reaction from players, had a positive impact on investor sentiment. Following the announcement on July 1, the company's shares rose by approximately 7%.

At the time of publication, Sony's stock had risen from a low of 3,232 yen on the day of the announcement to a peak of 3,486 yen on July 3, before correcting to around 3,380 yen.

The company explained the transition to a fully digital model by stating that demand for digital content significantly outweighs user interest in physical media. According to Sony, abandoning discs will allow them to focus on the most in-demand format for game distribution.

Financial reports confirm this trend. By the end of fiscal year 2025, sales of physical game copies accounted for only about 3% of Sony's total revenue, equivalent to approximately $830 million. In comparison, digital sales through the PlayStation Store generated about 23% of total revenue — almost $7 billion.

At the same time, leaks of internal PlayStation documents previously indicated that for some of the biggest exclusives, physical versions still account for a significant share of sales. However, the overall picture remains in favor of digital distribution.