Sony Shifts Its Biggest Disc Plant to New Tech
What’s Happening in Thalgau?
The factory in Thalgau, Austria, which has been pressing PlayStation discs, Blu‑rays and CDs for years, is getting a makeover. About 300 employees will keep their jobs, but they’ll be trained for new tasks instead of making game discs.
Workers Stay, Tasks Change
Sony DADC says the staff won’t be laid off. They will move to a different part of the plant that will start producing optical microlenses—tiny lenses that control light very precisely.
Daily Output and Future Drop
Right now the plant makes around 600,000 discs each day. Roughly half of that output is PlayStation game discs. Sony expects the demand for those discs to fall sharply after January 2028, when it plans to stop making physical disks for new PlayStation titles.
Why Sony Is Making the Move
Long‑Term Planning and Investment
The shift didn’t happen overnight. Sony has already invested about 30 million euros in new equipment for the Thalgau site, preparing it to make microlenses instead of discs.
From Game Discs to Optical Microlenses
Microlenses are used in devices that need to steer light in very small spaces—think car headlights that can project a turn‑signal onto the road, or tiny cameras in smartphones. Markus Streibl, who leads Sony’s micro‑optics team, says this technology has room to grow, which is why the company is betting on it.
Reaction from Fans and Critics
Concerns About Going All‑Digital
Many gamers have voiced worries online. They fear that ending physical discs will mean:
- Less ability to buy, sell, or loan used games
- Greater reliance on digital stores, where prices can change and access depends on an internet connection
Petitions and comments have appeared on forums and social media, but Sony’s big investment in the new lens line shows it’s unlikely to reverse the plan soon.
Looking Ahead
Even after 2028 the Thalgau plant will still press some discs, but the volume will drop. Sony estimates the change will cut about 10 percent of the plant’s total output by that year. The workers will stay, the factory will keep running, and its focus will move from gaming media to high‑precision optical parts.
Conclusion
Sony is turning its biggest disc‑pressing facility into a hub for optical microlenses, preparing for a future where physical game disks play a smaller role. While the move has sparked criticism from fans who love collecting and sharing physical copies, the company’s investment signals a clear, long‑term commitment to the new technology.
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