A new rumor suggests Sony may be reconsidering its plan to shift to a digital-only approach for PlayStation, in response to a reported push by Xbox toward physical media. Sony's decision to phase out physical media for PlayStation consoles has been one of the biggest gaming controversies of 2026.
A rumor from Gamescom suggests that Sony may not go through with its full digital-only approach, or at least not yet. The current plan is to eliminate physical disc support starting January 2028. The rumor suggests that Sony's decision may have prompted some of its biggest competitors to change their plans, thus making Sony reconsider its approach. According to the rumor, Microsoft has even reportedly said that Project Helix will support physical discs. Xbox recently revealed its new Disc to Digital program, allowing players who insert a physical disc to receive a digital license and access to perks like Xbox Play Anywhere and Cloud Gaming. Sony has not officially confirmed any reversal of its previously announced digital-only plans.
