Sony announced that it will cease production of physical PlayStation game discs in 2028, a move that experts warn will disproportionately affect low‑income gamers in Africa and other emerging markets. The decision eliminates the secondary market for used games, a long‑standing source of affordable titles for players who cannot afford new digital copies. According to Decrypt, the shift to an all‑digital ecosystem could raise the overall cost of gaming for those in regions with limited broadband access and high data prices.

Impact on the Used‑Game Market

The used‑game market has historically allowed gamers in low‑income regions to purchase titles at a fraction of the retail price. With discs gone, that avenue disappears, forcing consumers to rely on the PlayStation Store, which assumes a stable internet connection and the ability to pay in foreign currencies. Joost van Dreunen, a professor at NYU Stern, told Decrypt that “players at the bottom of the economic spectrum lose access to physical distribution through retail and, more importantly, discounted used sales.”

Digital Barriers in Africa

Many African countries are not officially supported by the PlayStation Network (PSN); South Africa remains the sole listed nation. Gamers in Nigeria, Egypt and elsewhere must create foreign‑registered accounts and purchase gift cards or use dollar‑linked payment methods, a practice that violates Sony’s terms and risks account suspension. Isa Muhammad, founder of the games platform Bijetic, explained that a Nigerian player would need a U.S. or U.K. PSN account, pay for a $80 game, and then spend an additional $25‑$60 on data to download a 212 GB pre‑load for GTA 6. At Nigeria’s median speed of 36.77 Mbps, the download would take nearly 13 hours.

Rising Costs and Connectivity Gaps

Beyond data fees, the overall cost of gaming is climbing. Sony raised PS5 prices in March 2026, citing global economic pressures, while the next‑generation Xbox is rumored to cost up to $1,800. Rural households often lack broadband capable of 100/20 Mbps speeds; at 10 Mbps, a 50 GB download can exceed 11 hours, according to van Dreunen. In Nigeria, a 450 GB broadband bundle costs roughly $55—more than the nation’s minimum monthly wage—making large game downloads a significant financial burden.

What to Watch Next

The industry will monitor Sony’s rollout of the disc‑free policy and any regulatory responses in regions where digital‑only sales could be deemed exclusionary. Potential backlash from consumer advocacy groups, such as the UK‑based Gamer’s Voice, may prompt Sony to reconsider pricing or introduce localized digital storefronts. Additionally, the emergence of alternative distribution channels—cloud gaming services and regional digital marketplaces—could mitigate some of the access challenges if they secure affordable bandwidth partnerships.