Sony PlayStation Goes Digital-Only by 2028, Sparking Antitrust Backlash

Sony plans to eliminate physical PlayStation discs by January 2028, a shift that forces all future console software sales through its own digital channels. This move matters to buyers because it removes the ability to buy, sell, or lend physical games, effectively ending the secondary market for PlayStation titles. Consumers will lose the option to purchase used copies or resell their own collections, concentrating all revenue and control within Sony's ecosystem.

Mexican lawmakers file antitrust complaint against Sony's 2028 digital shift

The policy change targets the entire PlayStation platform, requiring a complete transition to digital distribution for all future hardware and software releases. Mexican legislators from the Movimiento Ciudadano party view this strategy as a monopoly that allows Sony to dictate prices without market competition. The shift threatens local retailers such as Liverpool, Sanborns, and GamePlanet by cutting them out of the software sales chain entirely.

Mexican senator Luis Donaldo Colosio and federal deputy Iraís Reyes plan to file a formal antitrust complaint with Mexico's competition authority against Sony Interactive Entertainment. The legislators argue that eliminating physical media will wipe out resale, lending, and used-game collecting options for Mexican consumers. They contend that Sony will become the sole sales channel for PlayStation software, removing competitive pressure on pricing.

European Union regulators have already clarified that they lack the power to intervene in Sony's decision to cease disc production. EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection Michael McGrath stated that the EU cannot stop Sony from implementing this digital-only future. This regulatory stance contrasts with the active political resistance forming in Mexico, where lawmakers are preparing legal challenges to protect local retail interests.

We've been tracking PlayStation closely — see our earlier coverage on Sony Ends PlayStation Discs by 2028. The company faces divergent regulatory responses as it moves toward a fully digital ecosystem, with Mexico preparing legal action while the EU accepts the shift. Sony's plan proceeds despite concerns about market concentration and retailer impact in key international markets.