Your shelf of carefully boxed collector editions could look very different by January 2028. That uncertainty became slightly more complicated on September 25. Kenzo Saruhashi, CEO of Nippon Ichi Software and president of NIS America, told Kotaku at PAX West that discussions about Sony’s reported plan to stop manufacturing physical game discs for new PlayStation releases are still active and could still change.
Sony has not reversed that plan. Saruhashi’s comments suggest at least one publisher is communicating concerns directly, and that Sony is hearing them.
What Saruhashi Actually Said
The NISA chief described ongoing talks, not a confirmed reversal.
Speaking to Kotaku, Saruhashi said Sony appears to be receiving substantial feedback from players. His words were careful and conditional throughout.
On NISA’s own position, he was more direct.
“But speaking for myself, I know that a big part of our business model, particularly with NISA, is producing our physical limited editions and that’s an important part of our business and we, for our part, intend to continue making those physical editions and delivering the exceptional quality that our customers are expecting of us,” Saruhashi said, according to Kotaku.
Neither quote confirms that Sony is changing course. The first confirms that the conversation remains open; the second confirms that NISA intends to keep producing physical editions regardless.
What Code in a Box Actually Means for You
Familiar packaging, a very different product underneath.
Saruhashi mentioned code-in-a-box releases as one possible destination if Sony ends disc manufacturing. The format is worth understanding clearly before you decide how you feel about it.
A code-in-a-box product gives you physical packaging: the box, possibly a manual, an artbook, or other collectibles, depending on the release. What it does not give you is a disc. A download code sits where the video games used to be, meaning your access to the software depends on redeeming a digital license and downloading the title. Calling that a physical game is roughly like calling a gift card a vinyl record: the outer packaging is real, but the actual artifact is not.
For collectors who value resale, offline access, or long-term preservation, that distinction matters considerably.
What Comes Next
No timeline, no confirmed alternative, no resolution yet.
Saruhashi did not identify a timeline, describe specific concessions from Sony, or confirm any formal alternative arrangement. What his comments establish is that at least one publisher is communicating concerns to Sony while the policy remains under discussion. That context is precisely what makes his remarks newsworthy without overstating them.
Sony’s official announcement, published on its PlayStation Blog on July 1, 2026, states that physical disc production for new PlayStation games will be discontinued starting in January 2028. No subsequent announcement has changed that position.
For collectors and PlayStation owners, the practical move is to watch for Sony to speak directly. Publisher feedback reaching the right ears is meaningful. It is a data point in a negotiation, not a policy reversal, and until Sony confirms otherwise, the reported plan stands.
