Sony’s disc exit threatens $7.2B used game market

Sony's decision to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games starting January 2028 is casting a shadow over the global used video game market, which analysts valued at $7.2 billion in 2025.

A Market at Risk

Research firm Dataintelo had projected the global second-hand game platform market — encompassing pre-owned games, consoles, accessories, and peripherals — would grow from $7.2 billion in 2025 to $13.8 billion by 2034 at a 7.5% annual growth rate. That forecast was published before Sony's July 1 announcement, and analysts now say the real trajectory for used games looks far less optimistic.TechRadar+1

The console segment accounts for nearly half of the used gaming goods market, making PlayStation's shift to digital-only distribution a direct threat to the resale ecosystem that has sustained retailers like GameStop ↘ 4.32% for decades. Industry observers have called the move "extremely anti-consumer," warning that the resale market will "keep shrinking and eventually disappear" as physical media fades.Phrasemaker+1

Sony's Digital Future

Sony announced on July 1 that all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles after January 2028 will be available only through the PlayStation Store or as boxed editions containing digital codes. The company framed the shift as a response to "shifting trends in consumer preference," noting that the broader entertainment industry continues to move away from physical media.PlayStation.Blog+1

The announcement came just days after Rockstar revealed that the highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto VI would launch without a physical disc. Games released before the January 2028 cutoff will continue to be fully supported on disc.bbc+2

Industry Backlash

The decision has drawn criticism from multiple corners. British video game retailers have sharply objected to the move, and digital rights advocates have raised concerns about consumer ownership in an all-digital landscape. Critics note that Sony won widespread praise in 2013 by promising players they could freely share and resell physical games — a position it is now reversing.IXBT.games+2

The shift also raises questions about long-term access. Sony simultaneously announced it would shutter the PlayStation Store on PlayStation 3 in select markets later in 2026, with global closures of the PS3 and PlayStation Vita stores to follow. Once those stores close, players will no longer be able to purchase new digital content on those systems, underscoring the fragility of digital-only ownership.TechCrunch