Sony’s decision to eliminate physical PlayStation game discs by January 2028 faces mounting resistance, now extending beyond gamers and developers to include Mexican politicians. Two lawmakers from the Movimiento Ciudadano party intend to file a complaint with Mexico’s antitrust authority, arguing that Sony’s all-digital shift risks monopolistic control over PlayStation software sales.
The legislators warn that removing physical media will force all consumers to buy games exclusively through Sony’s digital storefront, effectively allowing the company to set prices and terms without competition. This would adversely affect major Mexican retailers such as Liverpool, Sanborns, and GamePlanet, who depend on physical game sales. It would also eliminate the resale market, lending options, and collectors of used games, transforming end-user rights from ownership to mere licensing controlled by Sony’s infrastructure.
This confrontation in Mexico adds to ongoing international scrutiny of Sony’s digital distribution model. Prior lawsuits in the UK, US, and the Netherlands challenge Sony’s exclusive pricing power on its PlayStation Store, accusing the company of inflating prices and limiting alternatives. A Dutch non-profit behind a multimillion-euro class action against Sony has emphasized that abandoning physical discs grants Sony unchecked price control over PlayStation titles.
Critics argue that the disappearance of physical discs goes beyond consumer nostalgia, representing a significant shift in market dynamics that concentrates Sony’s dominance over game distribution and pricing. The second-hand market historically provided competition and consumer choice by allowing game resales and lending. With digital-only sales, consumers lose these options and become fully dependent on Sony’s terms.
The debate is now framed as a competition issue rather than just a format preference, raising questions about regulatory responses worldwide. While some authorities express concern, the European Union’s Consumer Protection Commissioner recently indicated the EU cannot force Sony to continue producing physical discs.