Sony is now placing warning stickers on PS5 console boxes informing buyers that physical game discs are on their way out. YouTuber Behind the Games was among the first to share an image of the label, which was provided by a trusted source, with a video following shortly after.
The same warning text has since been spotted on European Amazon listings for the PS5, suggesting Sony added it to comply with consumer protection laws in those regions.
Popular Now: Ubisoft teases next Assassin's Creed remake after success of Black Flag ResyncedThe sticker reads: "From January 2028, newly released games on PlayStation will be available for purchase on PlayStation Store and at retailers in digital format only. Discs for games released before January 2028 can continue to be played on this console." The wording matches what Sony published in its July 1 blog post announcing the end of physical disc production. The same text is now appearing on Sony's official PS5 product and purchasing pages.
The label has been spotted on both disc and digital editions of the PS5, and a separate report on Bluesky showed the same message appearing when purchasing a standalone disc drive online. Not every unit appears to have it yet, with at least one journalist checking their local Best Buy and finding no stickers on either version of the console or the disc drive accessory.
Sony's CFO Lin Tao addressed the ongoing backlash during an investor Q&A in late July, acknowledging the "strong views" the announcement had generated while making clear the company is moving ahead. She noted that 82% of PlayStation game sales in the most recent quarter were digital, a figure Sony has leaned on repeatedly to justify the decision. Critics have pushed back on that number, pointing out that it includes titles never released in physical form at all.
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A community boycott is planned for the end of August as a final attempt to pressure Sony into reversing course. Based on the warning stickers now appearing on store shelves, that looks increasingly unlikely to change anything.
