For several weeks, the PlayStation community has been criticizing Sony for abandoning the release of physical editions of games in certain markets. Recent statistics show why the company is increasingly betting on digital distribution.
Circana analyst Mat Piscatella reported that since the beginning of 2026, only seven games for PlayStation platforms in the US have surpassed the 100,000 physical copies sold mark. In the week ending July 11, only two games sold more than 10,000 disc copies.
According to the analyst, the statistics cover all publishers and all PlayStation platforms, reflecting the overall market situation.
Piscatella noted that in 2009, Americans spent about $11.5 billion annually on physical games, while in 2026, this figure decreased to approximately $1.6 billion.
According to him, online protests are not enough: if players truly want to preserve physical editions, they need to buy games on discs first and foremost. This is precisely the kind of statistics Sony is likely relying on when making decisions about the future of its game distribution system.