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A number of companies have responded to the news that Sony will no longer support physical PlayStation discs beginning in 2028. That includes iam8bit, a company known for its physical gaming collectibles, which said it is “profoundly disappointed” by the news.
“Physical games are vital to games preservation, ownership, and consumer choice, values that have guided iam8bit since our first physical release in 2016,” the company said.
The company added that it remains committed to these values. “Long live physical media,” iam8bit said in its sign-off.
iam8bit collaborates with numerous game companies like Blizzard, Remedy, Capcom, Annapurna, and Xbox on physical games and merch. The company also releases vinyl soundtracks for games like Arc Raiders and Persona.
The company also funds and publishes games through its iam8bit Presents label.
GameFly, the game-rental service, also expressed its disappointment and used the opportunity to promote an opportunity for certain ex-subscribers to renew for $2.50. “We are disappointed in the news today about the future of PlayStation video games,” the company wrote. “GameFly is run by people who believe physical products still matter. It is a belief that has been at the core of our company since day one.”
Another company, the independent game developer Aeternum Game Studios, reacted to Sony’s announcement as well, saying its commitment to physical editions of its games remains intact. “We pledge to work urgently to bring every game we create–and those already on the way–tangibly to your shelves before that fateful early 2028 deadline,” the company said.
It added: “The industry may try to change its course but we will not let go of your hand. Your shelves will keep being filled with stories.”
The Video Game History Foundation director Frank Cifaldi also lamented the “unfortunate news” with regard to consumer rights and other related areas, but noted that for professional preservationists, “this doesn’t have as much of an impact as you might expect.”
PlayStation fans are also among those to express their disappointment with the news, with many expressing their support for physical media.
Sony continues to sell many, many millions of physical, disc-based games, but the number it sells each year continues to drop, and that trend is expected to continue for Sony and other game companies. Against this backdrop, Sony will no longer support disc-based games starting in January 2028, and the implication here is that the PS6 also won’t work with disc-based games. A recent report said Microsoft’s new console, Project Helix, may not support discs, either.
