Despite protests, PlayStation has not wavered after announcing a move away from PS5 discs in early 2028. However, according to insider Moore’s Law Is Dead, Sony recently surveyed potentially unhappy developers. The YouTuber suspects the company is considering a compromise to satisfy physical game collectors.
In a podcast, Moore’s Law Is Dead said the questionnaire was a “bigger survey than they‘ve sent almost ever before.” One question indirectly asked whether they were upset about PlayStation reducing Blu-ray production.
The Wolverine effect
The leaker noted that Marvel’s Wolverine PS5 disc sales confirmed a continuing appetite for physical games. During the first three days after its release date, Alinea Analytics estimates 1.9 million copies were sold. Almost 23% of the $130 million in revenue came from disc sales. Although digital purchases dominated, Sony risked losing a large chunk of sales without a boxed option at retailers.
Sony could be realizing that the protests won’t die down anytime soon. At Gamescom 2026, studios also voiced their concerns. John Linneman of Digital Foundry claimed smaller publishers in particular expressed discontent. Linneman spoke to companies considering shifting support to the Switch 2.
Finding a middle ground
It’s unclear what concessions PlayStation would be willing to make. With Sony’s Blu-ray factories remaining open in 2028, it has flexibility. New releases will no longer ship on PS5 discs, but tangible media support for existing titles like Wolverine may continue. Even at reduced production, the company could accommodate collectors with limited runs.
Once the transition to digital games is complete, some buyers will reluctantly embrace the PlayStation Store. Still, Microsoft or Nintendo may have a solution that tempts these consumers. Xbox already introduced a disc-to-digital preservation program. Meanwhile, the Mario maker has shown no signs of ditching cartridges.
Coincidentally, TechPowerUp detailed how Xbox recently polled Insider Hub members about features for future consoles. One survey question focused on the ability to install games from physical media. Most analysts expect Project Helix to ship without an optical drive, though an external accessory is possible.
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Adam Corsetti, 2026-09-23 (Update: 2026-09-23)
