PlayStation Killing Discs: A $7.2B Used Market at Risk and What Industry Execs Think

Sony's decision to end physical disc production for PlayStation is sending shockwaves through the gaming industry, with analysts warning that the move puts a $7.2 billion used games market in jeopardy. Brick-and-mortar game retail, already under sustained pressure from digital storefronts and subscription services, is now facing what some experts are calling an existential threat. The ripple effects could reshape how millions of players buy, sell, and access games for years to come.

Not everyone is sounding the alarm, though. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot weighed in during the company's latest earnings call, taking a measured tone and suggesting the shift has "pluses and minuses" but ultimately won't "disturb" the industry that much. Guillemot even hinted that the absence of physical discs could carry some upsides for publishers, likely pointing to reduced piracy and tighter control over game distribution. Meanwhile, God of War creator David Jaffe offered a blunter take, spelling out what he called the "uncomfortable truth" behind Sony's move: the used games market, which generates billions in revenue for retailers, puts almost nothing back into the pockets of developers and publishers, giving Sony a strong financial incentive to shut it down entirely.

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