Analysts Warn Sony Disc End Could Kill Used Game Market
The used game market is a $7.2 billion business, and Sony's disc phase-out could eliminate it, while Ubisoft argues digital-only will not disrupt the industry.
Reporting from 1 source: Automaton.
Sony will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games in January 2028. Analysts warn the used game market, valued at $7.2 billion in 2025, could eventually disappear. Ubisoft disagrees, saying digitalization will not cause major disruption. Views are divided across the industry.
Sony's decision to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games in January 2028 has split the industry. Market research firm Dataintelo values the global used game market at $7.2 billion for 2025, with projections reaching $13.8 billion by 2034. In the US, over 38% of video game transactions in 2025 involved used games.
Morningstar analyst Kazunori Ito predicts the market will shrink and eventually vanish as new games stop circulating. F-Squared co-founder Michael Futter warns retailers will suffer, since used game sales funded new purchases. Ubisoft, in its July 24 earnings call, said digitalization helped PC market growth and could lower hardware prices, predicting no major disruption.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 1 cited source below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.