It's more like Apple removing the CD Drive from its laptops starting in 2008. There were definitely a high number of complaints at the time, but not a single person is complaining about it today. You couldn't find many people complaining in the early 2010s either. The first thing to note about Sony's decision is that it would inevitably happen at some point for consoles. If not PS6, then PS7. Full game digital sales on PlayStation have gone from less than 10% prior to the release of the PS4 to around 80% today. On Xbox it's already over 90%, and if anything I'm surprised they weren't the ones to do it first. Yes, these numbers include digital only games, reflecting the current market environment, but they don't include DLC, microtransactions or subscriptions / free games. The truth is that the console ecosystem is nearly entirely digital at this point. - About 50% of the PlayStation 5 userbase is subscribed to PS+ and has built up a library of / has access to numerous digital games. - Sony earns more from digital add on content, microtransactions and other in-game purchases than it does from the sale of physical and digital full game sales combined. - The games with the highest number of players on PS5 in May included Fortnite, GTA V, Minecraft, Call of Duty, Apex Legends, Marvel Rivals, Battlefield 6 and Arc Raiders, half of which don't even ship on disc. - Over 30% of PS5s sold to date do not have a disc drive (Meaning that 70% do, however). More importantly though, the current sell through rate of digital only PS5s is above 50%. Note for the Insomniac data - Not only is it out of date, people are looking at the sell in number rather than the sell through number, and one of the reasons retail is high for certain games is because Sony counts bundles as retail sales, even if it's a digital code with the console. But for as much as this is a market driven decision, it's also a clear platform led push by Sony too. Even with the shift to digital, approximately 70 million PS5 game discs were sold last year representing ~20% of unit sales. It's clear that there is still a chunk of gamers who are buying physical games, even if the number has declined from 120 million in the PS5s launch year. So the question is, why are Sony doing this and will they reverse this decision? First, there's the economic argument. When Sony sells a third party game digitally at $70 via PSN, it earns $21 (30%). When it sells a third party game at retail, it earns around half that amount, even if the player spends the same $70. The difference isn't as stark for third party publishers, but they'd prefer to sell all games digitally if they could for the higher margins. That's why physical game revenue makes up just 5% of Sony's total game software sales revenue (incl. DLC / MTX), despite accounting a higher % share for units sold. When Sony said it would stop publishing games on PC, no one pointed out that it essentially earned the same from PC sales that it earns from physical disc sales, and the former was considered too little. The second reason is the reality of the market going into the launch of the PS6. Sony knows the PS6 is entering a market where consoles will cost over $1,000 and the average console player will think twice about upgrading on day one. While part of it is cutting costs, it's also a realization that consoles are no longer going to be $199 mass market devices and they will need to focus on hardcore gamers who are willing to spend more than ever. So yes, Sony knows a $1k console won't sell as much, it knows it might lose some disc only customers, or even the broader audience that has spotty internet connections or are in developing markets where discs may work better, but to update Don Mattrick's quote, Sony is saying "we already have a device that can play discs, and it's called the PS5". The third reason is about creating a closed ecosystem with high margins. The retreat from PC is partly about this, the end of disc production is also about this, as is the exploration of different form factors. Right now you can resell, gift, or even refund physical games. With digital games, you don't have the same rights currently. As Sony looks to maximize spend per user, it is essentially ending the used market for PS6 software and ensuring all software sold is high margin and they capture a %. In other words, Sony controls the license in its entirety and access is dependent on them. Even physical games have been trending in a direction where they are no longer plug and play, but instead require an install to the SSD, and increasingly require a day one patch or internet connection. Nintendo's Game Key Cards were criticized for not including the game on the cart and requiring a full download, essentially a license in a box, but at the very least they can be resold. But even on Switch 2, die hard physical fans were nowhere to be found when Pokopia came out and had a more than 20% attach rate because people either purchased the key card or went digital. I personally believe Sony's lack of announcement around what happens to PS5/PS4 discs was a mistake. Had they talked about a disc to digital program, or confirmed a disc add on for the PS6, the backlash wouldn't have been as strong. Do I see Sony reversing this decision? I'd say it's unlikely, but I wouldn't be surprised if they do end up clarifying certain aspects. I also personally believe that Sony could support physical games for a few more years, especially through a limited run style model or at a more expensive price point compared to the digital version. I'm also of the belief that even if the PS6 costs $1k, used physical games helps increase overall affordability. Regardless of whether we're talking about bringing physical back, or embracing digital, the conversation needs to shift to consumer rights and what a license should enable. Stop Killing Games was one part of it, but gifting, family sharing, refunds, and other aspects are just as important. Anyway, is this another Apple removing the disc drive from laptops moment? Kinda, but this time a new laptop will cost $5k and my old one with a disc drive works just fine.