A Change.org petition urging Sony to continue producing physical game discs for PlayStation beyond January 2028 has surpassed 278,000 signatures, with supporters arguing that digital-only distribution removes consumer choice and ownership rights.
Petition Gains Momentum
Jade Pearce, owner of Winnipeg-based PNP Games Inc., launched the petition after Sony announced on Canada Day that it would discontinue physical game disc production for new PlayStation titles starting January 2028. “We are not against digital. We are against digital being the only option,” Pearce wrote. “That’s the line we’re asking Sony not to cross. If we do not speak up now, the disc disappears, and the choice goes with it.”
The petition surpassed 250,000 signatures in just over a week and has generated more than 11,000 supporter comments. Pearce noted that many supporters shared videos explaining why the issue matters to them. “This was never about one store or one console,” Pearce said. “It’s about whether you own what you pay for.”
Sony’s Shift to Digital
Sony’s July 1 announcement stated: “As consumer preferences and the broader entertainment industry continue to shift away from physical discs to digital, physical game disc production for all new games releasing on PlayStation consoles will be discontinued starting January 2028. Following this date, new games will be available on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital formats only.”
The company defended the move as a natural adaptation to consumer trends, saying, “This transition will enable us to align more closely with how most of our community prefers to access and play games today.”
Arguments for Physical Media
The petition argues that physical discs allow consumers to lend, trade, resell, gift, collect, and preserve games. It raises concerns about the impact on retailers, distributors, manufacturers, the pre-owned market, and game collectors. “A disc is a real game you own,” Pearce countered. “You can lend it, trade it, resell it, gift it, collect it, or pass it down to your kids. A box with only a download code is not the same thing.”
As of Friday afternoon, the petition had attracted more than 278,500 signatures, reflecting strong opposition to Sony’s all-digital future.
