Gaming is edging closer towards a divisive new normal, with Sony set to stop releasing physical game discs for PlayStation consoles from 2028, and Rockstar Games announcing that physical copies of Grand Theft Auto 6 will come with a download code in the box, rather than a disc.
Unsurprisingly, gamers attached to the idea of owning physical media aren’t happy with either development, and the backlash has been fierce, with PlayStation’s posts on X and other social media being met with furious demands for the preservation of physical copies.
Sony’s plans to axe discs, and Microsoft seemingly following suit, also mean that GTA 6, one of the most anticipated games of all time, likely won’t ever be available as a physical disc.
I spoke with Katarzyna Jakubiec, the chief business officer at G2A, an online marketplace that provides digital game keys. She told me that interest in PlayStation Store gift cards was at record levels on the site before Sony’s announcement, and before Rockstar followed suit.
That’s great news for marketplaces like G2A, but not so much for millions of gamers. If Sony’s plans do come into effect in 2028, gamers will effectively be forced into buying gift cards (and already are with GTA 6) as one of the few options for cheaper digital purchases, without access to cheap pre-owned copies.
That partially explains why we’re seeing the increased popularity of PlayStation Store gift cards on marketplaces like Loaded and G2A, especially since physical copies of games in general are becoming less common — but despite potential growth in terms of G2A's site visitors and earnings as a result of this tend, Jakubiec has sympathy with angry gamers.
"GTA 6 pre-orders have reinforced a trend we were already seeing rather than changing the market overnight," Jakubiec said. "During the pre-sale period, PlayStation gift card purchases on G2A reached record levels and continue to grow as anticipation for the launch builds, showing that many players are planning their purchases well ahead of release rather than waiting until launch day.
"While more players are embracing digital formats for the flexibility and convenience they offer, it's equally clear that physical copies continue to mean a great deal to many gamers, whether that's because of ownership, collection, or simply the experience of buying a physical game.
"We don't see this as an either-or conversation, and in an ideal world, people should have the choice to buy games in the format that suits them best. Physical and digital both have an important place within gaming, and different people will always have different preferences."
That's not how Sony sees it, with the company taking the view that, with more consumers purchasing more games digitally, it doesn't make commercial sense to continue to produce game discs.
However, the reaction online, including from key game industry figures like Rockstar Games co-founder Dan Houser, who's no longer working at the game studio, indicate that gamers aren't ready to say goodbye to physical media — and Jakubiec shares their sentiment.
"The reaction has been just as telling as the decision itself," she says "It highlights how passionate and diverse the gaming community is, and why major industry decisions need to consider the different ways people choose to buy, own, and experience their games.
"Whether Sony decides to revisit its position is ultimately for them to determine," she adds, although Sony has so far refused to bow to pressure to reconsider its decision, and shows no sign of changing its mind..
Jakubiec adds: "Whatever direction the industry takes, moments like this reinforce the need to listen to players and communicate those decisions clearly."
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God of War Ragnarok
2. Best soulslike:
Elden Ring
3. Best superhero:
Marvel's Spider-Man 2
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Horizon Forbidden West
5. A Kojima banger
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6. Best multiplayer:
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