A growing number of PlayStation 5 users have reported an issue causing playtime for certain physical games to display as zero hours, raising concerns among players as Sony continues moving toward a digital-first gaming ecosystem.

The issue has drawn significant attention within the PlayStation community, particularly following Sony’s announcement that it plans to end production of new physical PS5 game discs beginning in 2028.

Physical PS5 Games Affected

According to user reports, the bug primarily affects games played from Blu-ray discs, with titles such as Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5), and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 showing incorrect playtime statistics.

In contrast, digital versions of games continue to display playtime normally.

Some players have also noted that titles linked to a digital license or downloadable content (DLC), including Persona 3 Reload, do not appear to be affected, suggesting the issue may be related specifically to physical game licenses.

Likely a PSN Technical Issue

Current reports suggest the problem is more likely tied to a technical issue within the PlayStation Network (PSN) rather than Sony’s long-term strategy to transition toward digital game distribution.

The bug reportedly surfaced shortly after Sony removed random or unwanted entries that had been appearing in users’ recently played game history, leading many players to believe the two issues may be connected.

Although PlayStation Support has acknowledged the problem, Sony has not yet announced when a fix will be released.

Concerns Over the Future of Physical Games

The timing of the bug has fueled ongoing discussions about the future of physical PlayStation games.

Recent industry reports have suggested that some upcoming releases—including Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6)—could ship with download codes rather than complete game data stored on the disc, further accelerating the industry’s shift toward digital distribution and reducing the long-term value of physical game ownership.

Why the Issue Matters

While the bug does not prevent players from launching or playing their games, it affects one of the platform’s most valued tracking features: total playtime.

For many PlayStation users, playtime statistics represent a personal gaming history, achievement tracking, and progress across their library. Until Sony releases an official fix, affected players are likely to continue seeing inaccurate playtime records for some physical PS5 titles.

Vexiora Analysis

Although the current issue appears to be a technical bug rather than an intentional change, its timing has intensified concerns about the future of physical game ownership. As the gaming industry continues shifting toward digital distribution, features tied to physical media are receiving greater scrutiny from players who value long-term access, ownership, and accurate account history.

If Sony resolves the bug through a future PSN or system software update, it may reassure users that physical game support remains a priority. However, the incident also highlights how increasingly connected gaming platforms rely on online services, even for features traditionally associated with physical game collections.