The golden era of optical discs for PlayStation console games is slowly coming to an end. Japanese tech giant Sony will reportedly discontinue disc-based game distribution and switch entirely to digital format starting January 2028. This strategic move directly impacts the company's main production facility, Sony Digital Audio Disc Corporation (DADC) in Thalgau, Austria.
In response to changing global market trends, Sony has allocated an investment of 30 million euros to revamp the plant. Instead of producing physical games, the facility that has served as a disc manufacturing hub will be repurposed into a micro-optical lens production facility. Management announced this decision directly to workers on July 1.
Micro-optical lenses are advanced components designed to manipulate light with high precision. Besides being used in camera sensors, augmented reality (AR) devices, and fiber optic networks, these components play a crucial role in modern automotive technology. One of their primary applications is in dynamic turn signal light systems, a technology that is now a key focus for Sony's future production.
Currently, the plant in Thalgau is still capable of pressing around 600,000 discs per day, half of which are PlayStation games. However, Sony DADC CEO Dietmar Tanzer projects disc production capacity to shrink sharply down to 10% by 2028. The closure of the disc facility marks the end of the physical media era that dominated the entertainment industry for decades.
Despite the massive operational overhaul, Sony is committed to retaining its approximately 300 employees in Thalgau. The workforce is scheduled to undergo retraining programs to gain skills in micro-optical lens manufacturing, with the new facility targeted to begin operations next year.
