The UK's Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) criticized Sony's decision to stop producing disks for PlayStation consoles starting in 2028, asserting that this move will significantly impact the multimillion-dollar market.
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According to ERA estimates, the market for physical game editions in the UK exceeded 300 million pounds (401 million dollars) in 2025. While they did not specify the number of consumers, they noted that a quarter of all UK gamers under the age of 25 regularly use disks.
In ERA's view, Sony's plans disregard the existing demand for disks.
“Consumers deserve the freedom to choose how to purchase entertainment products. Abandoning disks is not progress—it simply limits choice. It's bad for gamers, bad for retailers, and, ultimately, bad for the long-term health and preservation of our gaming industry,” stated ERA CEO Kim Bayley.
ERA is not the first to express discontent with Sony’s shift towards “digital-only.” For instance, it has emerged that the company faces a potential antitrust investigation in Mexico, and a petition on Change.org demanding “not to kill disks” has already gathered over 300,000 signatures.