Physical PS5 Game Sales Plummet Amid Digital Shift Concerns
WHO:
[ ] - Push Square - Christopher Dring of The Game Business provided context on physical video game sales in the UK.
[ ] - Push Square - Mat Piscatella is the director at Circana who provided sales data on PS5 games.
WHAT:
CNBC - Sony will permanently discontinue the production of physical discs for all new PlayStation games at the end of 2027, with all newly released video games available exclusively in digital formats starting in January 2028.
CNBC - The upcoming Grand Theft Auto 6, published by Take-Two Interactive, is reportedly one of the first games to use the digital-only model.
Push Square - Only two PlayStation video games sold more than 10,000 physical units in the USA during the week ending July 11, 2026.
Push Square - Mat Piscatella stated that only seven PS5 games have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in 2026.
Ars Technica - Sony's plan to halt production of PlayStation discs is set for January 2028.
Push Square - Pokémon Legends: Z-A was the ninth best-selling title in the UK physical market, selling 1,000 copies or less last week.
Push Square - The new Star Fox remake was the tenth best-selling title in the UK physical market, also selling 1,000 copies or less last week.
Push Square - Mat Piscatella did not confirm which PS5 games sold more than 100,000 physical units, but speculated that they likely include major releases such as Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and 007 First Light.
[ ] - Push Square - Only seven PS5 games have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in 2026.
[ ] - Push Square - In the week ending July 11, 2026, only two PS5 titles sold over 10,000 physical units.
[ ] - Push Square - If a game sold just 1,000 boxed copies in the UK last week, it would be the ninth best-selling title.
[ ] - Push Square - The new Star Fox remake sold 1,000 copies or less last week in the UK's physical market.
[ ] - Ars Technica - Sony plans to stop producing physical PlayStation discs in 2028.
WHERE:
[ ] - Push Square - The sales data pertains to the USA and UK markets.
WHEN:
[ ] - Push Square - The week ending July 11, 2026, is referenced for PS5 sales data.
[ ] - Push Square - Sony's plan to halt production of PlayStation discs is set for January 2028.
WHY:
CNBC - Michael Pachter, managing director of strategic planning at Wedbush Securities, stated that the move will save Sony money but will result in less optionality for consumers.
Forbes - Sony's decision to abandon physical discs is driven by the fact that 85% of PlayStation sales are now digital, although some fans dispute this estimate.
[ ] - Push Square - The decline in physical game sales is a contributing factor to Sony's decision to stop producing PlayStation discs.
[ ] - Ars Technica - Concerns have been raised about maintaining ownership and long-term access to games in a disc-free world.
HOW:
[ ] - Ars Technica - Analyzed prices of 19 current top-selling PlayStation games to compare digital downloads and physical discs.
(UPDATED July 22, 2026 05:54 UTC)
Sony has announced that it will permanently discontinue the production of physical discs for all new PlayStation games by the end of 2027, transitioning to a digital-only model starting in January 2028. The highly anticipated Grand Theft Auto 6, published by Take-Two Interactive, is set to be one of the first titles released under this new digital format. According to Michael Pachter from Wedbush Securities, while this shift will save Sony money, it will also limit options for consumers.
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(UPDATED July 21, 2026 19:25 UTC)
In a recent report, it was revealed that only two PlayStation video games sold more than 10,000 physical units in the USA during the week ending July 11, 2026, and only seven PS5 games have surpassed 100,000 physical copies sold this year. This comes as Sony plans to halt production of PlayStation discs in January 2028, a move driven by the fact that 85% of PlayStation sales are now digital, although some fans question this estimate. The shift away from physical media marks a significant change in the gaming landscape as digital sales continue to dominate.
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(UPDATED July 21, 2026 13:27 UTC)
In the UK physical market, Pokémon Legends: Z-A ranked as the ninth best-selling title last week, with sales of 1,000 copies or less, while the new Star Fox remake followed closely in tenth place, also selling 1,000 copies or less. Mat Piscatella did not confirm which PS5 games surpassed 100,000 physical units sold, but he speculated that popular titles like Resident Evil Requiem, Crimson Desert, and 007 First Light might be among them. The sales landscape continues to shift as gamers explore new and familiar titles alike.
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(UPDATED July 21, 2026 10:44 UTC)
In a significant shift for the gaming industry, only seven PS5 games have sold more than 100,000 physical copies in 2026, with just two titles surpassing 10,000 units in the week ending July 11. Meanwhile, Sony plans to stop producing physical PlayStation discs by January 2028, a decision influenced by the ongoing decline in physical game sales and concerns about ownership in a digital future. The new Star Fox remake, for instance, sold 1,000 copies or less last week, highlighting the challenges faced by physical titles in both the UK and US markets.