Sony’s wrapping up its physical gaming era as its last PlayStation disc factory shifts gears. The Thalgau plant in Austria, previously churning out 600,000 discs annually, is now pivoting to create optical microlenses. Why does this matter? Well, it’s another step towards Sony’s plan to say goodbye to game discs by 2028. PlayStation’s shift to digital is in full swing, and this factory switch is a big part of it.
Good news for the 300 employees there: no job losses! They’ll be retrained for microlens production, a tech that’s crucial for gadgets needing precise light control, like headsets. This move is part of a €30 million investment in new tech, according to Sony DADC’s Markus Streibl. Meanwhile, Sony’s disc-based game production dwindles to just 10% of its usual output.
This transition is bittersweet, with Sony also planning to end support for PS3 and PS Vita stores. As physical gaming slowly fades, will digital-only consoles become the new norm? Keep an eye on Sony’s next moves and how they might impact your gaming habits.
Photo by Mahmoud Yahyaoui on Pexels
