Naughty Dog
Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra has responded to Sony’s decision to end physical PlayStation games, saying that players shouldn’t have to “fear” losing games they’ve already bought.
Sony recently confirmed that it will stop producing physical discs for all new PlayStation games beginning in January 2028. While titles released before then will continue to be sold on disc, every new PlayStation game after the cutoff will launch exclusively in digital form through the PlayStation Store and retailers selling digital codes.
The company described it as “a natural direction” as digital purchases continue to outpace physical media. However, the announcement sparked debate among players concerned about game ownership, preservation, and what the shift means for the future of physical collections.
Mike Ybarra says used game market is a “must”
Mike Ybarra said he wasn’t surprised the industry is heading in that direction, but admitted he was “sad” and that the announcement came sooner than he expected. Although he said the decision won’t affect him personally, he believes future generations will miss out on part of the excitement that came with physical releases.
“What I personally don’t like is the Christmas mornings and Birthday parties for young kids,” he wrote. “Having to open a game only to have to spend potentially hours downloading it… it’s a real bummer.”
Sad to see this happening across the entire gaming industry. I guess it was going to happen at some point, but I didn't think it would be this soon.
I'm not a collector and I only buy digital so it doesn't impact me. What I personally don't like is the Christmas mornings and… https://t.co/D3kh7kjVd6
— Mike Ybarra (@Qwik) July 2, 2026
Instead of arguing that companies should keep making discs, Ybarra said platform holders should focus on making digital ownership feel more secure and consumer-friendly.
His biggest recommendation was for companies to create what he called a “digital promise” that gives players confidence they’ll always have access to the games they’ve purchased.
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“We can’t live in a world of fear if our games will work in the future or not,” he said.
He also proposed making digital game sharing much easier, introducing a marketplace where players could sell used digital games back to other users, and calling a used game market a “must.”
Ybarra finished by urging platform holders to communicate their long-term plans more clearly, writing: “Show us you have a plan for this transition and that you care about gamers. We will embrace the transition if you give us the confidence, trust, and freedom to enjoy the hobby we love.”
The news of Sony scrapping physical games came just after Rockstar confirmed that GTA 6 won’t feature a disc, even if you buy the ultimate edition.
