iam8bit, a company known for its physical gaming collectibles, has responded to Sony's announcement that it will no longer support physical PlayStation discs in 2028, saying it is "profoundly disappointed" by the news.
"Physical games are vital to games preservation, ownership, and consumer choice, values that have guided iam8bit since our first physical release in 2016," the company said.
The company added that it remains committed to these values. "Long live physical media," iam8bit said in its sign-off.
iam8bit collaborates with numerous game companies like Blizzard, Remedy, Capcom, Annapurna, and Xbox on physical games and merch. The company also releases vinyl soundtracks for games like Arc Raiders and Persona.
The company also funds and publishes games through its iam8bit Presents label.
Another company, the independent game developer Aeternum Game Studios, reacted to Sony's announcement as well, saying its commitment to physical editions of its games remains intact. "We pledge to work urgently to bring every game we create--and those already on the way--tangibly to your shelves before that fateful early 2028 deadline," the company said.
It added: "The industry may try to change its course but we will not let go of your hand. Your shelves will keep being filled with stories."
Sony continues to sell many, many millions of physical, disc-based games, but the number it sells each year continues to drop, and that trend is expected to continue for Sony and other game companies. Against this backdrop, Sony will no longer support disc-based games starting in January 2028, and the implication here is that the PS6 also won't work with disc-based games. A recent report said Microsoft's new console, Project Helix, may not support discs, either.
