With the recent news that Sony is halting disc production from 2028 onwards, and reports suggesting that Xbox is following suit with a digital-exclusive Project Helix, the era of physical games is all but coming to an end. Nintendo is keeping the torch lit, but physical media might still continue elsewhere as a zombified shell of its former self, following GTA 6's example with codes in boxes.

In the latest episode of the VGC podcast, editor-in-chief Andy Robinson detailed a conversation he had with Circana senior director and industry analyst Mat Piscatella, who predicted exactly that: "There's still going to be codes in a box and there's still going to be special editions." It's physical on a technicality, as the plastic cases will merely hold a voucher for digital games, which are really just non-exclusive licenses, serving as padding for your shelves. GTA 6 has already drawn controversy for this approach, so it's hard to imagine PlayStation faring much better.

Physical Games Still Make $1.6 Billion A Year

While it's true that retailers have been struggling to sell physical games for years, and as Robinson noted, special editions "haven't come with games for a long time," that doesn't mean physical games aren't a lucrative business. There's been a major decline over the years, with Piscatella revealing in June that revenue dropped from a staggering $11.5 billion in 2009 to $1.6 billion in 2026, but that's still a billion-dollar industry.

A lot of physical media enthusiasts will likely pivot to digital, as we saw with PC players decades ago, but if Sony is truly planning to adopt a code-in-box approach, it clearly doesn't want to lose that $1.6 billion slice of the pie. However, with the internet set alight over the end of disc production, compounded by the frustration of $1,000+ consoles, culminating in PS Plus boycotts, it's clear that GTA 6-style plastic novelties aren't going to dull the controversy. Though with facilities being repurposed, and staff retrained, don't expect PlayStation to reverse course even in the face of insurmountable backlash.

US new physical video game software spending. 12 months ending May 2007-2026: — Mat Piscatella (@matpiscatella.bsky.social) 2026-06-25T11:30:56.827Z

On the surface, code in boxes might seem like a compromise. Sure, PlayStation isn't producing discs anymore, but at least you can complete your collection and have something tangible to show your 'ownership' of a game, but the ramifications of this approach are staggering.

Codes can only be redeemed once, meaning that you cannot trade in your games, killing the second-hand market for future generations. Digital games also have countless risks—if you're hacked, lose access to your library, or breach PlayStation terms-of-service, not to mention the licenses expiring, you could lose your entire library without compensation. The codes might come in a physical box, but really, it's just a plastic cover-up for digital purchases, with all the same problems that brings.

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