On July 1, 2026, Sony Interactive Entertainment made a bombshell announcement: beginning in January 2028, new games launched on the PlayStation platform would halt physical disc production and fully embrace digital distribution. This decision triggered a fierce backlash from gamers, with a barrage of criticism flooding social media platforms. A petition opposing the move even garnered over 100,000 signatures. Rovio Barcelona's Senior Level Designer, David Fernandez Alonso, disclosed that Sony had underestimated the intensity of the player community's pushback. Nevertheless, Sony stood firm, justifying its decision on the long-term trends in consumer behavior and the sustained surge in digital consumption. Financial data revealed that digital game sales on the PlayStation platform already accounted for nearly 80% of total revenue, far outpacing physical sales. Moreover, Sony planned to gradually shut down digital stores for older consoles, signaling a disc-free future for its next-generation console, the PS6.