Sony has announced plans to cease manufacturing physical game discs for its PlayStation consoles starting in 2028. The decision marks a shift toward digital-only distribution for the company's gaming hardware. John Hardie, who leads the National Videogame Museum in Frisco, addressed the announcement this week. He stated that the industry has been moving in this direction for several years.
Hardie characterized Sony's move as primarily motivated by profit. He warned that the consequences for the preservation of gaming history could be substantial. The museum director noted that game preservationists have long feared this specific outcome.
Without physical media, Hardie explained that games become dependent on the consoles where they are stored. He said that once a digital title is removed from platforms, it may disappear entirely from historical records. The director emphasized that there is no longer a tangible disk to preserve.
Hardie stated that museums and preservationists are now reliant on publishers to maintain their game code. He said these groups must hope that publishers will act responsibly and care for their digital assets. Without such care, he argued, some titles could vanish from history.
The National Videogame Museum is located in Frisco, a city approximately 30 miles north of Dallas. The museum continues to monitor the industry's shift away from physical media.
