New Delhi, Aug. 1 -- it is not working.

Lin Tao, Sony's CFO, confirmed during the earnings call that the company would proceed with its plan to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games by January 2028. She characterized the approach as moving forward "cautiously," language that, in earnings-call usage, signals a decision already made. Tao acknowledged that some players feel emotionally attached to physical media but said that attachment had not produced any measurable impact on Sony's business. The 330,000 signatories of the "Don't Kill the Disc" petition, started by UK independent retailer PNP Games, did not change the math.

The numbers Sony cited in its defense had actually moved in a direction the company did not dwell ...