Sony announced that it will stop manufacturing physical game discs by 2028, a move that will affect collectors and players who rely on physical media for access to older titles.
The decision raises questions about the feasibility of backing up PlayStation games and the legal implications of creating personal copies.
In the United States, copyright law permits owners to make backup copies of media they own, but it prohibits the circumvention of any copy‑protection measures embedded in that media.
Consequently, while a single user may legally create a backup of a disc they own, developing or distributing tools that bypass protection can expose creators to legal liability.
Older PlayStation systems use simpler encryption, making it easier to extract data. The PlayStation 1 and 2 employed CDs and DVDs, while the PS3, PS4 and PS5 use Blu‑ray and Ultra HD Blu‑ray discs.
To rip a disc, a compatible drive capable of reading the disc format is required. Many modern computers can read CDs and DVDs, but Blu‑ray drives are less common and may be necessary for later consoles.
Burning a backup disc requires a drive that can write to the chosen format. Drives that read Blu‑ray discs typically also support writing, but users should verify before purchase.
Running a burned disc on a PlayStation console is generally not possible without modifying the system. Older consoles may accept burned discs after a soft‑mod, but newer models often block such attempts through firmware updates.
Because of these challenges, many users opt to play backups using emulators that replicate console hardware in software. Emulators exist for PS1, PS2, PS3, and PS4, but none are available for PS5.
Using a personal backup in an emulator is usually considered legal, provided the user owns the original game. Pirating titles that have not been purchased remains a legal risk.
The discontinuation of physical media threatens long‑term preservation of games. Physical discs remain valuable when digital servers shut down or when internet access is limited.
While Sony may eventually discontinue disc production entirely, the effort to archive and preserve older games continues to be important for cultural and historical reasons.
