Insiders report that Sony recently surveyed partner developers regarding their views on future disc releases for games. Physical edition sales for Marvel's Wolverine on PS5 accounted for nearly 23% of the game's total revenue, indicating continued demand for physical copies; shifting to purely digital distribution could cause some studios to lose sales revenue and players who prefer long-term physical ownership.
PlayStation previously announced plans to stop releasing discs for new PS5 games starting in early 2028. Despite opposition, these plans have not changed. Insider source Moore’s Law Is Dead suggests that this survey may indicate Sony is considering options that cater to physical collectors, though no specific adjustments have been confirmed yet.
Moore’s Law Is Dead stated on their podcast that the scale of this survey exceeds almost all previous similar surveys. One question indirectly asked developers whether they were dissatisfied with PlayStation's reduction in Blu-ray disc production.
Alinea Analytics estimates that Marvel's Wolverine sold 1.9 million copies in its first three days, generating approximately $130 million in revenue, with physical editions accounting for nearly 23% of total sales. Digital purchases still make up the majority, but this proportion has sparked discussion about potential sales losses if physical retail were discontinued.
It remains unclear whether PlayStation will adjust its plans. Sony's Blu-ray disc factory is expected to remain operational through 2028, meaning that even if new PS5 games no longer receive disc releases, physical copies of existing titles may continue to be produced; limited runs are also a possibility. These scenarios are currently just speculation.