Sony PlayStation 6 to be Digital-Only, Expected Launch in 2028
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 6 days ago
0mins
Several analysts believe that Sony's (SONY) PlayStation 6 and Microsoft's (MSFT) Project Helix, the next-generation consoles from both companies which have not been officially unveiled yet, will almost certainly be digital-only devices, and will likely launch in 2028, Kotaku's Rebekah Valentine reports. The news comes after Sony announced it will cease production of all physical discs for PlayStation games in 2028. Circana senior director Mat Piscatella told Kotaku that it is "safe to now assume that both PlayStation 6 and Project Helix will be digital only devices," though he noted that Nintendo (NTDOY) will continue producing physical cartridges at least through the end of the Switch 2's life cycle. "Physical media in video games will only last so long as the console manufacturers allow it to, and we're now one step closer to its death," Piscatella added. "It's a sad day in the world of video games." Meanwhile, Dr. Serkan Toto of Kantan Games agreed with Piscatella on Nintendo's releases, and also told Kotaku that Xbox could follow PlayStation's lead in moving away from discs entirely. Daniel Ahmad, director of research & insights with Niko Partners, also told Kotaku, "This move guarantees that the PlayStation 6 will ship without a disc drive and Sony is embracing an all digital future. I think many expected Microsoft to make this announcement first, but Sony has beaten them to the punch."
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Analyst Views on SONY
Wall Street analysts forecast SONY stock price to rise
1 Analyst Rating
1 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 20.790
Low
34.00
Averages
34.00
High
34.00
Current: 20.790
Low
34.00
Averages
34.00
High
34.00
About SONY
Sony Group Corp is a Japan-based company engaged in the games & network services (G&NS), music, movies, entertainment technology & services (ET&S), imaging & sensing solutions (I&SS) and other businesses. It has seven business segments. G&NS segment is involved in network service business, the manufacture and sale of home video game consoles and software. The Music segment mainly includes music production, music publishing and video media platform businesses. The Movies segment mainly includes film production, television program production and media network businesses. The ET&S field mainly includes the television business, audio, video business, still image, video camera business, smartphone business and Internet-related service business. The I&SS segment mainly includes the image sensor business. The Financial segment is involved in the insurance business and banking business. The Other segment consists of activities such as disc manufacturing business and recording media business.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Market Trend Adaptation: This decision is viewed as a 'natural direction' to align with the rapidly growing demand for digital games, which significantly outpaces physical discs, as Sony aims to better connect with user gaming habits, thereby strengthening its competitive position in the market.
- Impact on Existing Games: Sony clarified that this transition will not affect disc games released before 2028, ensuring that current users' gaming experiences remain intact while paving the way for future digital strategies that may attract more new users.
- Community Feedback Emphasis: The company noted that this transition will enable it to align more closely with how most community members prefer to access and play games, indicating Sony's commitment to valuing user feedback and enhancing customer satisfaction and loyalty.
See More
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- Market Adaptation: This decision is viewed as a 'natural direction' for the company to adapt to changing market dynamics, as consumer demand for digital games significantly outpaces that for physical discs, likely driving further growth in digital content sales.
- Enhanced User Experience: Through this transition, PlayStation aims to align more closely with how most users prefer to access and play games today, enhancing user satisfaction and brand loyalty, which is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge in a rapidly evolving market.
- Existing Games Unaffected: The company clarified that this transition will not impact disc games released before 2028, ensuring that current users' gaming experiences remain intact while paving the way for future digital strategies.
See More
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- Digital Transformation: Sony announced that starting January 2028, all new PlayStation games will be released exclusively in digital format, reflecting a shift in consumer preferences towards digital media, thereby allowing the company to better align with how users access and play games.
- Historical Shift: This decision marks the end of over three decades of physical disc game releases since the original PlayStation launched in 1994, signifying a major transformation in the company's game distribution model.
- Market Adaptation: Sony stated that this transition will not affect games released before January 2028, ensuring that existing users' gaming experiences remain intact while continuing to offer purchasing options through both PlayStation Store and retail partners.
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