Sony’s 2028 disc phaseout has a bandwidth bug: 50GB takes 11 hours

Sony’s decision to stop producing physical game discs from 2028 is expected to disproportionately affect lower-income gamers who rely on discounted second-hand games and may lack reliable, high-speed internet access, according to industry experts. “By abandoning physical discs, some players at the bottom of the economic spectrum lose access to physical distribution through retail and, more importantly, discounted used sales,” Joost van Dreunen, professor at the NYU Stern School of Business and video game business author, told Decrypt. “It won't immediately show up in the financials of major game makers, since their focus is now on creating premium experiences for a luxury class of gamers.”

The shift toward digital distribution follows nearly two decades of attempts by publishers to discontinue physical media, with the former Infinity Ward employee cited by Decrypt saying the movement was intended to maximize profits and counter the resale market. Robert Bowling, former Infinity Ward creative strategist for the Call of Duty franchise from 2006 to 2012, said he first heard discussions about cutting discs as far back as 2007.

Sony raised PS5 prices in March, citing “pressures in the global economic landscape,” while the next generation of Xbox is expected to cost up to $1,800, according to Fortune. A spokesperson for UK advocacy group Gamer's Voice told Decrypt that Sony's move to cut discs will “likely affect people on lower incomes more.”

Access issues extend beyond hardware prices. Isa Muhammad, founder of Africa and Middle East-focused games industry platform Bijetic, said the PS5 is already “out of reach for most Africans” and that second-hand games remain essential for consumers who can afford a console. The PlayStation Network is supported in only one African nation, South Africa, according to Muhammad. “A gamer in Nigeria who wants to buy digitally has to set up an account registered in the U.S. or UK, then pay with foreign gift cards or a dollar card,” he said.

Download capacity presents another barrier. “Bandwidth is now part of what a game costs,” van Dreunen said. “Roughly one in four rural [American] households has no wired provider offering 100/20 Mbps, and at 10 Mbps a 50GB download takes about 11 hours.” Internet speeds across Africa and the Middle East also vary significantly, with Muhammad noting substantial differences throughout the region.