Sony’s 2028 Disc Shutdown Raises Questions for PS5 Owners Who Watch Blu-rays

Sony’s confirmed plan to stop producing physical discs by 2028 isn’t just shaking up how gamers will buy games in the future—it could also ripple into how people watch movies. According to IGN, the PlayStation 5’s built-in 4K Blu-ray drive has quietly made it one of the most popular entry-level Blu-ray players on the market, and the console’s eventual disappearance raises questions about what comes next for physical movie collectors.

The concern stems from the fact that the upcoming PS6 is expected to ditch disc drives entirely, following Sony’s broader shift toward an all-digital future. While that change is primarily aimed at gaming, IGN notes that Sony’s business extends well beyond consoles—the company is also a major producer and distributor of Blu-ray discs, meaning a move away from physical formats in gaming could eventually influence its movie and TV disc business too.

A Console Doubling as a Home Theater Staple

For years, the PS5 has served double duty for many households: a gaming machine during the day and a 4K Blu-ray player at night. IGN, which regularly covers new 4K Blu-ray releases, points out that a sizable chunk of its audience likely uses the console specifically for that purpose rather than owning a dedicated disc player.

That’s notable because, according to IGN, the 4K Blu-ray format actually saw its first sales growth in years back in 2025. Physical movie collecting hasn’t vanished—it’s arguably experiencing a modest resurgence, even as gaming pushes further into digital-only territory.

No Immediate Impact, But Long-Term Questions Loom

IGN is careful to clarify that Sony’s disc production announcement won’t affect existing PS5 owners overnight. Anyone who already has a disc-equipped PS5 will keep full access to their 4K Blu-ray collection for as long as the hardware lasts. The bigger uncertainty lies further down the road, once the PS6 launches without any disc drive at all.

At that point, gamers who also use their console as their primary movie player would need to find an alternative—whether that’s a dedicated Blu-ray player, an Xbox Series X (which still supports 4K Blu-ray playback), or streaming services. IGN frames this as a question worth watching closely, since Sony’s dual role as both console maker and disc distributor puts it in a unique position to shape what happens to physical media across two different industries at once.

IGN Wants to Hear From Readers

Rather than drawing firm conclusions, IGN is using the moment to poll its audience directly, asking how many people currently depend on their PS5 to watch 4K Blu-rays and what device they use most often for physical movie playback. The outlet says the answers could hint at just how disruptive a disc-free future might actually be for collectors who’ve leaned on their gaming console as a makeshift home theater centerpiece.

Read also: Analyst: Sony’s Disc-Free PS5 Shift Won’t Change Nintendo’s Physical Strategy