Physical Media Comeback at Risk From Next Console Generation

The Story

A Wired report examines the potential for next-generation consoles from Sony and Microsoft to omit disc drives, despite a reported resurgence in physical media. The article notes that 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray sales rose 12 percent in the United States in 2025, according to the Digital Entertainment Group, while overall disc sales decline is slowing. Both Sony and Microsoft have moved away including disc drives in current models such as the Xbox Series S and PS5 Digital Edition, and many physical game releases now contain only digital tokens. The report argues that consoles remain the most accessible 4K Blu-ray players because most standalone player manufacturers have exited the market. It also states that when given the choice, buyers overwhelmingly choose consoles with disc playback capabilities. Backward compatibility with older games is cited as another reason to retain the drive.

Key Facts

• Sony has teased a “future console” in the next few years.
• Microsoft confirmed the next Xbox is codenamed Project Helix, likely due in 2028.
• Sales of 4K UHD Blu-rays in the US rose 12 percent in 2025, according to the Digital Entertainment Group.
• Overall disc sales dropped less than 10 percent for full year 2025, marking a slowing decline.
• Standalone 4K Blu-ray player production ceased by Oppo (2018), Samsung (2019), and LG (2024).
• Only Panasonic and Sony still make dedicated players, with neither refreshing hardware in years.
• When given the choice, buyers overwhelmingly opt for consoles with disc playback capabilities.
• Many “on disc” game releases contain only an installation pack or bearer token for a digital version.
• Xbox supports games from four console generations; PS5 supports all but a tiny handful of PS4 games.

Conflicting Reports

No conflicting reports identified in the source article.

Still Unclear

The article does not specify whether Sony or Microsoft have confirmed disc drives for their next consoles. It also does not provide exact sales figures for disc-equipped consoles.

Misconceptions

No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.

Key Figures

• Jason Ronald, vice president of Next Generation at Microsoft.
• Digital Entertainment Group (DEG), cited for sales data.

Sources: Wired