They believe that Sony’s decision to phase out discs is neither progressive nor an improvement.
A United Kingdom trade organization representing retailers of physical and digital entertainment products has criticized Sony’s decision to stop producing disc-based versions of PlayStation games. The Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA), which supports retailers and digital service providers that connect music, video, and game creators with fans in the UK, condemned the decision, saying it is harmful to both gamers and retailers. ERA claims that consumer data shows one-quarter of people under 25 use physical discs and that the total market for disc-based games exceeded £300 million last year. This proves that boxed games have a significant and dedicated audience.
“PlayStation’s announcement that major games will no longer be available on disc is a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice. Every year, millions of gamers choose to buy physical copies because they value true ownership. A disc can be shared with family, traded in, collected, preserved, and—crucially—still played years from now. A download license often offers none of those freedoms. Retailers see this demand every day. Physical games continue to bring people into stores and provide real value through gifting, collecting, and resale.
The industry should embrace every legitimate way consumers want to buy games instead of narrowing their choices. Digital distribution has transformed gaming and is hugely popular. However, it should complement physical formats rather than replace them. Consumers deserve the freedom to choose how they purchase entertainment. Eliminating discs doesn’t represent progress; it simply eliminates choice. This is bad for gamers, bad for retailers, and ultimately bad for the long-term health and preservation of our gaming industry,” said CEO Kim Bayley in a statement.
Last week, a European Union commissioner stated that Sony and other game developers cannot be prevented from discontinuing the production of physical game discs and releasing their future games exclusively in digital format. Michael McGrath, the EU Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law, and Consumer Protection, explained that developers are free to decide what format to use, provided they comply with the law.
A petition calling on Sony to reverse its decision has already reached 300,000 signatures, but the company’s largest manufacturing plant in Austria is preparing to stop producing discs. Sony has invested approximately 30 million euros in new equipment for producing optical microlenses and has begun training staff to operate it.
Source: VGC, Game Business
