Sony could soon face a formal antitrust complaint in Mexico over its decision to end physical PlayStation game production. Two Mexican politicians believe the move could give Sony too much control over game prices and distribution.
Federal Representative Iraís Reyes and Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio plan to submit the complaint to Mexico’s competition authority. However, they reportedly intend to file it as private citizens and video game consumers rather than in their political roles.
PlayStation Store could become the only option
Sony plans to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028. New releases would then become available through digital storefronts instead.
The Mexican complaint will question whether this strategy gives Sony an unfair position within its own ecosystem. Sony already controls the PlayStation hardware, operating system, and PlayStation Store.
Without physical releases, the PlayStation Store could become the only effective place to purchase new games for Sony’s consoles.
Players would no longer be able to compare prices between physical retailers and Sony’s digital storefront. Retailers would also lose the ability to offer discounts, bundles, or clearance sales on new PlayStation games.
Used PlayStation games would disappear
Ending physical game production would also remove the second-hand market for future PlayStation releases.
Players can currently sell, trade, lend, or purchase used physical games. Digital purchases cannot usually be transferred to another account or resold after completion.
The Mexican lawmakers argue that consumers would lose genuine alternatives once physical copies disappear. Sony would gain greater control over prices, availability, and access to purchased content.
Publishers and developers could also become more dependent on Sony’s commercial terms because no competing storefront exists on PlayStation consoles.
Internet access remains another concern
A digital-only PlayStation ecosystem could cause additional problems in areas with slow or unreliable internet connections.
Modern games regularly require downloads exceeding 100 GB. Players without fast broadband could face lengthy download times or struggle to access new releases entirely.
Physical discs do not always contain the complete finished game, but they still reduce dependence on large initial downloads. They can also provide another method of installing and preserving games.
The complaint will ask Mexican regulators to examine whether Sony’s plans could harm consumers, retailers, and competition within the country.
Pressure continues to build against Sony
Sony’s physical-media decision has already generated criticism outside Mexico.
Consumer advocates argue that removing discs eliminates the strongest source of competition against PlayStation Store pricing. It also leaves customers dependent on Sony’s servers, account policies, and licensing agreements.
The Mexican complaint does not guarantee that regulators will take action against Sony. Officials must first determine whether the company’s plans breach competition laws.
However, the case adds further pressure as Sony prepares to move PlayStation toward a digital-only future.
