ERA Statement: Removing Game Discs Removes Consumer Choice

Statement from Kim Bayley, CEO, ERA, the digital entertainment and retail association

"Playstation’s announcement that major games will no longer be available on disc is a triumph of corporate convenience over consumer choice.

Every year, millions of gamers still choose to buy physical copies because they value true ownership. A disc can be shared with family, traded in, collected, preserved and, crucially, still played years from now. A download licence often offers none of those freedoms.

ERA consumer data shows that 25% of under 25's use discs for gaming and the total disc based games market was valued at over £300million in 2025, demonstrating that there remains a substantial and committed audience for boxed games.

Retailers see this demand every day. Physical games continue to bring people into shops and give consumers real value through gifting, collecting and resale.

The industry should be embracing every legitimate way consumers want to buy games, not narrowing their choices. Digital distribution has transformed gaming and is hugely popular, but it should complement physical formats, not replace them.

Consumers deserve the freedom to choose how they buy their entertainment. Removing discs doesn't represent progress – it simply removes choice. That's bad for gamers, bad for retailers and ultimately bad for the long-term health and preservation of our games industry."