Sony stops the physical games for PlayStation. MeinMMO editor Benedikt Schlotmann believes that he has no longer any reason to buy a PS6. Many others feel the same way. The strategy to focus solely on digital seems sensible, but many players have been caught off guard.
Sony caught me off guard yesterday, on July 1, 2026. Because the company suddenly announced, that it wants to fully discontinue physical discs. I was still optimistic just a few days ago, because the PS5 was worth it like never before.
I have been playing for 10 years now, whenever I’m not on the PC, on a PlayStation console. Starting with the PS3, I have now bought three different generations of Sony’s console, often even multiple times.
The decision to part ways with physical games has also killed my idea or interest in a PS6. Because it is to be expected that Sony will also focus completely on digital with this. The company has already shown this with the PS5 Pro, where the drive was only an option.
Only digital brings too many uncertainties for me
I am someone who almost exclusively buys physically when the opportunity arises: I enjoy buying music, movies, and also games as discs, which I can then use at home without the internet. I also do not subscribe to any streaming service. I am also one of the few people who still have an external drive to listen to music on the PC.
On the PC, I have long been unable to avoid digital purchases and downloads with Steam, Gog, and others, but on the console, I always had the option to grab the disc. And I made extensive use of that option.
However, with the PS6, I have enough worries that Sony will push its “digital only” strategy hard: A pure digital console, no drive anymore, not even as an accessory?
What are people like me who have mainly bought physical games supposed to do? Can I even still use them? What about backwards compatibility, which Sony presumably never voluntarily implemented? What about my movies that I only have on Blu-ray? Especially since Sony recently showed how little the digital rights of the buyers of their films mean to them.
For me, the PS6 is currently a huge pile of fat compromises that I do not want to make. Apart from the fact that with the crazy hardware prices, no one knows what the next PlayStation console could cost. And I am not the only person thinking this way right now.
Many are currently skeptical about the future of PlayStation and gaming
If I look at the comments on our site, on Reddit, or talk to my colleagues, many feel the same: Very few have a reason to look forward to a PS6 or even buy one in the end. For instance, a user named Sturm writes on MeinMMO:
(…) These are great news for me as a collector who has collected pretty much all known video game consoles and many games physically since the NES. I will not buy the PS6 including games as the first PlayStation console and save a lot of money.
My colleague Niko Hernes says: “After this decision by Sony, the PS6 can stay away from me, then I’ll just play Nintendo.”
On Reddit, many are also discussing this decision and point out that no new console is needed at all. Because there are still plenty of old consoles and games that one can enjoy. The current future in gaming is, however, depressing many users.
Even industry experts like Tom Henderson can no longer find joy in the next console generation. He writes on X: “I have no desire at all to find out what is coming next, let alone spend more money on it.”
What do you think? Is this also a reason for you to reject the PS6 or do you see Sony’s decision as a justifiable step? Let me know in the comments!
Sony has been changing how it interacts with players for a few weeks now. Just recently, they announced that they want to bring their games back exclusively to the PS5 console to strengthen their brand. You can read more about this at MeinMMO: Sony leaves PC gamers behind to strengthen PS5
My colleague Niko Hernes says: “After this decision by Sony, the PS6 can stay away from me, then I’ll just play Nintendo.”
On Reddit, many are also discussing this decision and point out that no new console is needed at all. Because there are still plenty of old consoles and games that one can enjoy. The current future in gaming is, however, depressing many users.
Even industry experts like Tom Henderson can no longer find joy in the next console generation. He writes on X: “I have no desire at all to find out what is coming next, let alone spend more money on it.”
What do you think? Is this also a reason for you to reject the PS6 or do you see Sony’s decision as a justifiable step? Let me know in the comments!
Sony has been changing how it interacts with players for a few weeks now. Just recently, they announced that they want to bring their games back exclusively to the PS5 console to strengthen their brand. You can read more about this at MeinMMO: Sony leaves PC gamers behind to strengthen PS5
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