Sony surveys developers on disc discontinuation plans amid industry pushback

Sony has reportedly sent a substantial survey to game developers seeking feedback on its decision to discontinue PlayStation disc support, according to YouTube tech channel Moore's Law is Dead.

Host Tom said the survey was "a bigger survey than they've sent almost ever before, if not ever before," and included a question asking developers about issues with physical game sales. "There was a question in it basically trying to ask in a not direct way: is there any issue with how we sell games physically, or something - asking developers for feedback on killing discs," he explained.

The report offers no corroborating evidence beyond these claims. Eurogamer contacted Sony for verification but received no response at the time of publication.

Sony announced in July that it would begin phasing out PlayStation disc production starting early 2028, citing declining physical sales and the shift toward digital distribution. The company later clarified that disc output would decrease by 10 percent in 2028, rather than dropping to 10 percent of current levels.

The decision sparked significant industry criticism. Developers including Hideo Kojima publicly expressed concerns, and social media backlash prompted Sony to implement stricter staff guidelines. Reports from Gamescom indicated widespread unfavorable industry reaction to the disc-ending plans.

The timing raises questions about games scheduled for 2028 releases. CD Projekt Red previously stated it was "powerless" regarding decisions about The Witcher 4's physical availability. With over a year before discontinuation begins, Sony could adjust the pacing or terms of its disc phase-out based on developer feedback.