Sony says sole disc plant will cut output 10%, not 90%

September 14, 2026 at 06:25 AM1 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Sony DADC clarified that its Thalgau disc plant will reduce output by 10%, not the previously reported 90%. The correction follows earlier reports that the plant was being repurposed away from discs. New physical game production is still set to end in January 2028.

Key Facts

Sony DADC said the Thalgau plant will reduce overall product volume by 10%, not to 10%.
New physical game production will end in January 2028.
Publishers may continue reordering existing disc-based games after January 2028.
The Thalgau plant employs 300 people.

Production Clarification

Sony DADC issued a correction after earlier remarks caused confusion among industry observers. A spokesperson said Dietmar anticipated an overall product volume decline by 10 percent, not a decline down to 10 percent. The clarification came roughly two months after reports claimed the plant was being repurposed away from discs entirely. Sony has consistently maintained that new physical game production will end in January 2028.

Disc Availability

Sony confirmed publishers may continue reordering existing disc-based games even after new physical production ceases in January 2028. PlayStation disc games already on shelves will remain available to buy for the foreseeable future. The Thalgau plant will still operate at nearly full capacity beyond the original 2028 cutoff for releases. Sony DADC did not respond to a fact-check request regarding whether all 300 plant employees face retraining toward alternative roles.

Industry Context

Wider industry trends continue pointing toward digital distribution gradually replacing physical discs across most major platforms. Several major publishers remain notably absent from Microsoft's separate disc-to-digital initiative. Sony recently argued in court that consumers cannot reasonably believe they truly own purchased games, since copies can exist simultaneously. Reports from earlier this year suggested employees were being shifted away from discs toward microlens production at the same facility.