Sony is now putting disc death warning stickers on PS5 boxes, proving it has no plans on reversing its decision

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.

The 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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What exactly does the new PS5 warning sticker say about disc availability after January 2028?

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Are the warning stickers appearing on both PS5 Disc and Digital Edition boxes?

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Why is Sony adding these warning labels to PS5 boxes and product pages in Europe?

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Do discs for games released before January 2028 continue to work on current PS5 consoles?

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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.