I honestly doubt Sony can unilatelaty alter how a product someone else is the copyright onwer without their direct consent. They can add ads in their own games, in the UI, and in the store. I'm really not sure they could pause Final Fantasy XVI every 10 minutes to push an advertisement without Square Enix consent.

About the Netflix and such situation, I'm more inclined to believe its on the contract prior to any show being signed for any platform, as that is such in something expected in that kind of service. Like we have had for decades for TV shows.

Buy anyway, I really can't say for sure, but to me it doesn't sound like something they can decide by themselves.

Physical gaming likely generates more money than any other physical entertainment service like movies, music and such, and yet it's the one to be axed before them all?

Yeah, it isn't nearly a necessary decision, Playstation has been generating more money in the past 5 years than in the other 25 combined, it's really pretty stupid to give up on all that money and also get people to hate you while you are making more money them you ever did.

The decision is very likely based on many other things like repurposing space in the factory to more lucrative things, having a bigger profit cut of all remaining sales and even having full control of the media.

Physical gaming is not being axed because it doesn't make enough money by itself, at all.

Us is not the world.

Do you really expect a different trend in most other countries?

If yes, a few examples would be nice.

The fact that we are comparing physical games from 2008, like 2-3 years after digital purchases was even a thing on consoles, is a bit much. It was 100% physical in 2004. Oh my! What a drop since then...

You……completely missed the point lol. It had 0 to do with the percentage drop itself and everything to do with how much money is actually being spent on physical games. That’s where the ultimate truth lies.

Physical games now cost upwards of $70 physically. Back in the day it was upwards of $60. For the entirety of 2025, only $1.5 billion was spent on physical games in the US. That figure is across all 3 console makers COMBINED! That’s not good regardless of how anyone tries to spin it. The $11.6 billion figure spent on physical games from 2008 is most likely a lot higher when adjusted for inflation.

I get the argument of percentages being skewed, but let’s not be willfully ignorant on the actual financials. It’s the same trajectory in every major gaming market outside of Japan.

Ultimately, Sony could’ve still done several different things to keep physical games going. From charging an extra $20 premium to just drastically scaling down production, but they chose to do nothing.

Well if Sony doesnt care about approximately 500 million dollars a year, then thats fair enough I guess.

Yeah that’s unfortunately what they’re betting on. Just enough people giving in to where it’ll make up for those who refuse to buy games on PlayStation anymore.

Jason Schreier broke down that for every $70 physical game Sony sells, they come away with about $45 after retail fees, manufacturing fees, etc. Now, they’ll make the full $70 on first party games and a bigger cut on digital third party games too. Forcing all digital means they hope that enough players won’t care anymore to offset the players that do decide to leave.

And I’m sure Sony doubts there’s going to be a mass exodus to Nintendo just for physical games.

So the retailers get nothing from selling the code in a box versions in their stores anymore...?

Pretty sure any company in the world you ask "would do like to do a $700M extra a year in the US alone?" (I would not divide that 1.5B in a perfect 3 way as Xbox is likely a much lower contributor).

Every single one would answer "yes, obviously" and the fact Sony is going for a "no" 100% means its not about the physical games at all, it's about the fact that if they succeed on getting rid of it while still keeping the vast majority of customers they expect to make a whole lot more than they'll lose with it and the people leaving.

And that's just the US, it surely makes so much more worldwide. Europe must have a decently better ratio for physical too for example.

Physical games is still huge multi billion dollars business, that also involves more than simply selling those games, as they bring people to subscribe to their services, to buy accessories (the disc drive accessory sells very well despite the vast majority of PS5 sales already being the ones that come with it), controllers, expansions, dlc, engage with multiplayer, etc, but getting rid of it is such a control wet dream and a big % increase that shareholders salivate over, that they are willing to even potentially fuck up their entire brand image over it.

Those same shareholders will be the first to leave in a blink if the ship starts to flood, tho, all they care is the biggest short term profits possibly, regardless of what happens with the company or even the industry long term, and appeasing to them against your customer base interest is shooting your own foot hard, but we'll see, Sony clearly thinks it can do whatever and not even bother to address the feedback, so they are either about to be proven right or oh boy, that foot is going to have a hole much bigger than any curative than cover.