17 years ago, PlayStation first to go digital-only — and never gave up

Now the company is ready to go through it all over again Citing shifting consumer preference, Sony revealed today that it is ending physical disc production for new games on PlayStation consoles, starting January 2028. Games released after that point will arrive exclusively in digital formats. Some of the more vocal consumers, who overwhelmingly prefer that their games remain available on physical discs, have not responded to the news with enthusiasm. A lot of those same people didn’t express joy nearly two decades ago, either, when Sony made its first ambitious push for a digital-only future with the PSP Go. Originally released in October 2009, the PSP Go was a revision of the classic PSP hardware that weighed less and boasted a smaller form factor. The “Go” label meant that you could take it on the go, which was already the point of owning the larger models. It also meant you had to watch your ability to run physical UMDs go out the window. While removing some consumer options, the PSP Go added exciting new functionality, including Bluetooth compatibility. Owners could play their games using a Sixaxis or DualShock 3 controller. Using the supported cradle, they could also enjoy th