In an episode of The Expansion Pass that aired the week before October 6, former PlayStation executive Shawn Layden criticized Sony Interactive Entertainment’s plan to stop producing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases starting in January 2028. Layden argued that resale and having a tangible copy contribute to some players’ sense of ownership. He said he was not involved in the decision.
What Sony announced for January 2028
On July 1, 2026, Sony Interactive Entertainment announced plans to end physical disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles, beginning in January 2028. Sony says new games after the transition will be available digitally through PlayStation Store and retailers. Games already released or scheduled for disc release before January 2028 are outside the change.
Why physical copies matter to Layden
Layden acknowledged that downloading a game is more convenient, but argued that convenience does not replace the value some players place on resale and a physical copy. A disc can be resold and gives its buyer something tangible to keep; in Layden’s view, those qualities shape whether a game feels owned rather than simply accessible. For players who value resale or a copy on the shelf, that is the distinction at the heart of his objection.
