Next Console Generation Could End Disc Drives Despite Physical Media Resurgence

The Story

Next-generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft are in development, but both companies may drop the 4K Blu-ray disc drive, according to a Wired report. This comes as physical media, particularly 4K UHD discs, is experiencing a modest sales uptick. The article argues that disc drives remain important for backward compatibility and serve as the most accessible disc player for many consumers.

Key Facts

• Sony has teased a “future console” and Microsoft’s next Xbox is codenamed “Project Helix,” likely due in 2028.
• The Xbox Series S, PS5 Digital Edition, and PS5 Pro lack disc drives, though the latter two can use a sold-separately peripheral.
• Sales of 4K UHD Blu‑ray discs in the US rose 12% in 2025 compared to 2024, the first annual increase in years, per the Digital Entertainment Group.
• Overall disc sales (including Blu‑ray and DVD) dropped “less than 10 percent” in 2025, with the decline slowing.
• More than half of Gen Z “subscription hops” between streaming services; 30% of that demographic buys hard copies of TV or movies (Kantar, UC Berkeley, IGN).
• Dedicated 4K Blu‑ray player options have dwindled: Oppo ceased production in 2018, Samsung in 2019, LG in 2024. Only Panasonic and Sony still make players, with no recent refreshes.
• Microsoft’s Vice President of Next Generation, Jason Ronald, said the company is “committed to keeping games from four generations of Xbox playable for years to come” with Project Helix but stopped short of confirming disc‑based game support.
• The PS5 supports nearly all PS4 games but cannot play PS3, PS2, or PS1 discs.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

• Whether the next PlayStation or Xbox will include a disc drive.
• Whether Microsoft’s Project Helix will support disc‑based games.
• How Sony might handle backward compatibility for PS3, PS2, and PS1 games on future hardware.

Misconceptions

The article directly addresses the misconception that all physical media is dead, noting that 4K UHD Blu‑ray sales are growing even as overall disc sales decline.

Key Figures

• Jason Ronald, Vice President of Next Generation at Microsoft
• Sony (company)
• Microsoft (company)

Sources: Wired