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Madrid.- The announcement by video game company PlayStation that it will stop producing disc versions of new titles for its consoles starting in January 2028 has sparked a reaction from the retail chain Game Spain and the Spanish distributor Meridiem, both of which have defended the physical format.
According to PlayStation’s announcement in the United States, new video games will be available on Sony’s official digital store, the PlayStation Store, and in physical stores only in digital format, a change that is occurring as a “natural evolution” for Sony Interactive Entertainment, the company behind PlayStation, in its quest to adapt to consumer trends.
The sale of the PlayStation 6 will not include a disc drive
n” “nIn fact, the launch of the PlayStation 5 in 2020 included a version with a disc drive for 499 euros compared to the disc-less option for 399 euros. Thus, industry analysts point out that the sale of the PlayStation 6 -scheduled for after 2028- will not include that disc drive, so all content created for the console will be digital.
n” “nAll of this is in addition to the publication on June 25th of the latest news regarding the release of the successful ‘GTA VI’, which will be released on November 19th, but with new conditions, as can be inferred from the communication from its developers: “The physical version of Grand Theft Auto VI, which includes a download code inside the box, will be available starting November 12, 2026, to allow for pre-loading” (that is, for those who have pre-ordered).
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This sparked numerous criticisms among the gaming community, who understand that the physical box will not contain the disc, an intense conversation that has been fueled this Wednesday with the PlayStation announcement and with fears about the end of retail trade hovering.
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“They want us to believe that this is a natural evolution”
n” “n“They want us to believe that this is a natural evolution, but we believe that the future should not be built by eliminating options, but by expanding them. Digital and physical can coexist; in fact, they have been doing so for years,” explains Game Spain in a text published on its social media channels.
The retail chain asserts that “video games are more than just a downloadable file” and although they declare themselves aware that the digital format “is here to stay,” they reject “a model imposed unilaterally” and defend the freedom to choose.
The disappearance of the physical format means the end of collecting, trading between players, or special editions, maintains the retail chain, which also appeals to consumer rights.
For all these reasons, they commit to “continuing to bet on the physical format, supporting those who make it possible, and giving a voice to a community that has been proving for years that it is still there,” and concludes: “This will be Game’s fight, but also that of a united community that has never stopped defending what it loves.”
For its part, Meridiem has also published a document on its social media titled “Our letter to the community: an unwavering commitment”.
“As long as there is a single player who values having their collection on the shelf, as long as there is someone who prefers to feel a physical edition in their hands, as long as our community continues supporting and believing in our work, Meridiem will resist,” it promises.
The distributor adds in this letter addressed to the gaming community that “our compass continues to point toward the same place, the shelf in your home”.
