A study about the longevity of Blu-rays offers some insight into how long PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4 owners can expect their physical discs to remain playable. Ever since Sony revealed it will stop manufacturing new PlayStation discs in 2028, Blu-ray discs have become a major topic of discussion in gaming communities.
Gamers opposing Sony's decision argue that digital games do not offer the same ownership as discs, which can potentially remain playable for years. This view was supported by a study showing that over 90% of PS5 discs work offline. However, another study suggests that while discs may better guarantee ownership, they are fragile products that may not last long if neglected.
An EU Commissioner comments on Sony's decision to discontinue physical discs, and his response leaves gamers with a bitter taste, to say the least.
According to a study by the Canadian Conservation Institute (CCI), read-only Blu-ray discs are expected to remain usable for 10 to 20 years. A read-only disc, or BD-ROM, comes with pre-recorded digital data, such as a movie or game. So, based on CCI's observations, physical PS4 and PS5 discs may only last up to two decades....
