Sony has reaffirmed its plan to discontinue the production of PlayStation (PS) discs.

During a Q&A session with investors following the company's earnings call on the 31st, Sony Group CFO Lin Tao stated that this decision has had no impact on current operations and is not expected to have any negative effects in the future. Sony previously announced that it would cease the production of physical discs for new game releases starting in January 2028.

"We have not identified any impact on our current business," Lin said. He explained that because a significant portion of content sales has already shifted to digital, ending disc production will not negatively affect the business.

The topic of discs was raised multiple times during the Q&A. While acknowledging the strong opinions coming from the gaming community, Lin stated that there are no plans to reverse the decision. He emphasized that the conclusion was reached after a long and thorough review, and the company intends to proceed with caution. However, he did not dismiss user reactions, adding, "We are well aware of the attachment users and players have," and noted that the company must consider how to respond to that feedback.

According to Sony's earnings report, digital downloads account for 82% of full-game software sales for PS4 and PS5. Revenue from physical packages now makes up only 3% of total gaming revenue, down by half from the 6% recorded in 2020, the year the PS5 was launched.

U.S. market data points to a similar trend. According to Mat Piscatella, Executive Director at market research firm Circana, only seven PlayStation games have sold more than 100k physical copies in the U.S. this year.

The digital transition is advantageous in terms of profit structure. When selling physical game packages, distribution fees and manufacturing costs reduce Sony's share to around 65%; however, sales made through its own platform, the PlayStation Store, allow Sony to retain the full revenue.

User backlash has continued following Sony's announcement. Users are signing online petitions and protesting via official social media channels.

The core issues are game preservation and ownership. Games distributed exclusively in digital format are tied to accounts and servers, meaning they become inaccessible if a store closes or a licensing agreement expires. Furthermore, options for second-hand trading or lending are eliminated.

Criticism from within the industry is also mounting. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) in the U.K. criticized Sony's decision, calling it "a result that prioritizes corporate convenience over consumer choice."

Most analysts believe it is unlikely that Sony will reverse its current policy. They explain that because the digital transition is structured to maximize profit margins per unit sold, the company is unlikely to change course simply due to backlash.

Ultimately, the remaining challenge is not financial performance, but winning back user sentiment. The discontinuation of disc production is set to take effect in January 2028. All eyes are now on how Sony will restructure its retail distribution after the transition and how it will incorporate user feedback moving forward.