Sony's Shift From Discs Threatens $7.2 Billion Used Game Market
WHO:
Kotaku - Sohei Niikawa, creator of Disgaea, expressed the importance of physical games.
TechRadar - Sony is the company making the decision to end production of physical discs.
Eurogamer.net - Analysts from Dataintelo provided the market analysis regarding the second-hand video game market.
WHAT:
Eurogamer.net - Analysts from Dataintelo stated that the second-hand video game market, estimated at $7.2 billion, could be destroyed due to Sony's decision to end the manufacturing of PlayStation discs by January 2028.
Eurogamer.net - In the US, more than 38 percent of all video game transactions in 2025 involved a pre-owned game.
Eurogamer.net - The second-hand market is projected to reach $13.8 billion by 2034.
Eurogamer.net - Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa combined held 10.3 percent of the second-hand video game market trade.
Kotaku - Niikawa stated, “I think physical editions of games are very important... It becomes a memory or a keepsake connected to something that matters to them.”
Kotaku - Sony's upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI will release in November with game boxes containing a download code instead of a disc.
TechRadar - Sony plans to retire the production of physical discs.
Eurogamer.net - The second-hand video game market is estimated to be worth $7.2 billion globally.
Eurogamer.net - Consoles accounted for 42.3 percent of the $7.2 billion revenue in the second-hand market.
Eurogamer.net - The second-hand market is projected to reach $13.8 billion by 2034.
WHERE:
Eurogamer.net - North America is responsible for 36.8 percent of the second-hand market revenue, estimated at $2.65 billion.
Eurogamer.net - Europe captured around 28.3 percent of the global second-hand revenue.
Eurogamer.net - The UK, Germany, France, and the Nordics are the top adopters in Europe.
Eurogamer.net - GameStop, Amazon, eBay, and Decluttr lead the market in North America, while CEX is the leader in Europe.
Eurogamer.net - Asia Pacific holds the third-largest spot at an estimated 24.6 percent of the market.
WHEN:
TechRadar - Sony will end production of physical discs starting in January 2028.
Eurogamer.net - The market analysis refers to transactions in 2025.
WHY:
Eurogamer.net - Michael Pachter stated, “Brick and mortar game retail is doomed,” highlighting the impact of Sony's decision on physical game sales.
Eurogamer.net - Kazunori Ito, director of equity research at Morningstar, expressed that the market is expected to continue declining before vanishing entirely.
Kotaku - Niikawa suggested that Sony's decision to eliminate physical games may lead to the elimination of the hardware as well, stating, “If they’re going to go as far as eliminating physical packages, they may as well eliminate the hardware too.”
Eurogamer.net - Analysts suggest that Sony's decision could destroy the second-hand video game market.
Eurogamer.net - Affordability drives players to the second-hand market.
Eurogamer.net - Michael Pachter stated that historically, at least one-third of games have been sold as used.
HOW:
Kotaku - Niikawa noted that physical copies allow players to have developers sign them at events, enhancing their sentimental value.
Eurogamer.net - Retailers may continue to offer code-in-box, vouchers, and other methods for acquiring digital copies of games, but most will be negatively impacted by Sony's decision.
(UPDATED July 23, 2026 19:25 UTC)
Analysts from Dataintelo have warned that the second-hand video game market, currently valued at $7.2 billion, could face destruction due to Sony's plan to stop manufacturing PlayStation discs by January 2028. In the U.S., over 38 percent of video game transactions in 2025 involved pre-owned games, and the second-hand market is projected to grow to $13.8 billion by 2034. Experts like Michael Pachter and Kazunori Ito have expressed grave concerns about the future of brick-and-mortar game retail, predicting a significant decline that could lead to its complete disappearance.
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(UPDATED July 23, 2026 12:24 UTC)
Sohei Niikawa, the creator of Disgaea, emphasized the significance of physical game editions, saying they serve as cherished memories connected to meaningful experiences. He expressed concern over Sony's upcoming release of Grand Theft Auto VI, which will feature game boxes containing a download code instead of a disc, suggesting that this trend could lead to the eventual elimination of hardware altogether. Niikawa also highlighted how physical copies allow players to get them signed by developers at events, adding to their sentimental value.
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(UPDATED July 23, 2026 11:38 UTC)
Sony has announced plans to end the production of physical discs, with this transition set to begin in January 2028. The second-hand video game market, currently valued at $7.2 billion globally, is projected to grow to $13.8 billion by 2034, with consoles making up 42.3 percent of that revenue. Analysts warn that Sony's decision could significantly impact this market, as affordability drives many players to seek out used games, a trend that has historically seen at least one-third of games sold as used.