An EU commissioner has suggested there is not much the European Union can legally stop PlayStation from abandoning the physical disk. Sony plans to stop releasing media formats for its PlayStation consoles, with the change taking effect in January 2028.
Many gamers are trying to prevent the Japanese company from discontinuing the disc. There is now a Change.org petition calling for PlayStation to cancel the release of the physical disc, and so far it has collected hundreds of thousands of signatures. Some people are even turning to legislators and lawmakers to push for new actions and regulations that could prevent Sony's decision to kill PlayStation discs. However, a recent comment by a politician has sparked another wave of frustration among gamers.
There is not much the EU can do, says the commissioner
As reported by the Irish Mirror, EU Commissioner for Consumer Protection Michael McGrath recently commented on Sony's new policies, saying, “Companies are free to offer games and services as they see fit.” McGrath also explained that “it comes down to commercial and contractual freedom.” His comments came after the European Commission earlier pushed the Stop Killing Games movement.
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In June 2026, the European Commission announced that it would not proceed with Stop Killing Games' request to propose rules that would prevent publishers from sunsetting games. Now, the same scenario seems to be unfolding with Sony's no-disc policy. The EU is unlikely to try to stop the Japanese company from going ahead with its controversial decision. It appears that European copyright and intellectual property laws prevent legislators from enacting regulations that compel publishers to directly present, sell or endorse their products.
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Image via Sony -
Image via Sony -
Image via Sony
In the context of the Stop Killing Games movement, the EU has pledged to create a code of conduct to better manage the end-of-life process of games. So, PlayStation fans can expect similar steps to improve digital game ownership rights. However, based on McGrath's comments, it is unlikely that the European Union will introduce any substantive legislation against Sony's plans to discontinue the disc.
Of course, McGrath isn't the first to share such disappointing news with gamers. In early July, game industry analyst Dr. Serkan Toto echoed a similarly dire outlook for the future of PlayStation. Toto said Sony is unlikely to change course on its choice to end physical game discs despite the ongoing backlash. He suggested that even if the customer base is so large that thousands of people stop buying games or cancel their PS Plus subscriptions, Sony will avoid the impact and move forward with the decision.
Players don't seem to have stopped fighting for physical discs, though. On social media, they are using the phrase #BoycottSony and “No disc, no buy” to encourage fellow PlayStation users to resist the decision. The gaming industry has responded to PlayStation ending physical media with mostly negative sentiment, and many well-known developers have criticized the company's policies. However, it remains to be seen how effective these user-led movements will be, as the legal side of things currently does not seem to favor consumers.
