Sony's PS5 Disc Exit: Backlash Is Just a 'Vocal Minority,' Analyst Says

Ever wonder who's actually buying physical games these days? If you're a collector, you probably think everyone is. But according to one analyst, the loud backlash to Sony ending disc production is coming from a smaller group than it seems.

Sony confirmed that come January 2028, it will stop making new discs for PlayStation consoles, effectively exiting the physical games market. The announcement sparked fierce pushback from studios and fans alike. But Rhys Elliott, head of market analysis at Alinea Analytics, argues in a newsletter that the outcry represents "a vocal minority of a revenue minority."

Elliott dug into PS5 sales data to show the split. Single-player blockbusters still move a lot of discs: Resident Evil: Requiem saw just over 30% physical sales on PS5, Marvel's Wolverine over 32%, while Pragmata and Onimusha: The Way of the Sword both topped 40%. Games like 007: First Light, Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced, and Crimson Desert came in under 30%. So yes, disc games still account for a big chunk of single-player purchases.

But multiplayer is a different beast. Sports and live-service titles are almost entirely digital: FC 27, Madden 27, and MLB The Show 26 all have disc sales below 10% on PS5. Those games are massive money-makers, and the disparity shows how different communities behave. Single-player fans buy more discs, while sports and live-service players are nearly all-digital.

That matters to Sony's bottom line because producing discs requires an expensive pipeline—manufacturing, distribution, retail—all of which digital eliminates. Plus, Sony controls the PS Store marketplace far more tightly. Elliott acknowledges the backlash comes from longtime fans and fervent collectors who pre-order collector's editions and stay engaged for years. "Some will walk," he says, but many will begrudgingly buy through the PS Store.

The bigger issue, according to Elliott, is Sony's messaging. "Sony is usually quiet and doesn't talk much, which can sometimes be a strength. It hasn't been a strength here," he writes. That silence has bred cynicism among the faithful.

So what do you think? Will you keep buying PS5 discs while you can, or have you already gone all-digital? Let us know in the comments.