Black Myth: Wukong Physical Release

The physical release of Black Myth: Wukong became an unusually important success for PM Studios. The publisher handled distribution of the PS5 physical edition across North America, South America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with the edition containing the full game on a Blu ray disc alongside a voucher for Deluxe Edition content. Gematsu

The success came at an important moment for the physical games business. Sony announced in July 2026 that it would stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028, with new releases moving to digital only. PlayStation.Blog

Note: Black Myth: Wukong itself already has a physical PS5 release. The current issue concerns the future of new PlayStation physical releases rather than the removal of existing discs.

PM Studios and Black Myth: Wukong

PM Studios has spent years publishing physical games, particularly titles from Asian developers for Western markets. According to CEO Michael Yum, the company handles around 100 or more physical releases each year, including releases published on behalf of other companies.

Black Myth: Wukong became one of the company's biggest successes. Yum described the game as one of PM Studios' biggest risks when the company agreed to handle its physical publishing. Its eventual performance exceeded expectations to such an extent that Yum said the title effectively covered the company's other releases. TheMorningPulse.fyi

The physical PS5 edition was particularly notable because the base game was actually included on the disc rather than being merely a download code. Push Square

Why PM Studios Is Mourning PlayStation Discs

Sony's announcement represents a major change for a publisher whose business has historically depended on physical media.

Michael Yum described the move as “sad and devastating”, noting his personal connection to PlayStation and physical games. At the same time, he acknowledged that younger players increasingly prefer digital purchases, with digital ownership becoming a much larger part of the modern games market. GameDev.net

Sony said its decision reflects changing consumer preferences and the growing dominance of digital game purchases. For new PlayStation games released from January 2028 onward, Sony plans to end physical disc production. PlayStation.Blog

PM Studios' Shift Toward AA Games

The change is pushing PM Studios beyond its traditional physical publishing model.

Yum says the company is already working on more digital titles while continuing to support selected physical releases. PM Studios is also taking on broader publishing responsibilities, including investment, marketing and production support for games such as My Time at Evershine and The Wolf Among Us 2. Online Tech Guru

This reflects a wider strategic interest in the AA market, where publishers can potentially support ambitious games without taking on the enormous budgets associated with major AAA productions.

PM Studios' role is therefore evolving from primarily putting finished games onto discs and cartridges toward helping finance, publish and market games throughout development.

⚠️ Important: Sony's January 2028 change applies to new PlayStation games. Sony has stated that games already released, or games releasing before January 2028 in disc format, are not affected by the transition. PlayStation.Blog

The Future of Physical Games

PM Studios is not abandoning physical releases entirely.

The company continues to work on physical editions, including the upcoming physical release of Dispatch. At the same time, its growing investment in digital publishing and development support suggests that physical products may increasingly become a specialized part of its business rather than its central model.

For collectors, this could mean greater emphasis on premium editions and carefully selected physical releases, while mainstream distribution increasingly moves toward digital platforms.

Quick Facts

Final Take

Black Myth: Wukong illustrates both the continuing demand for physical games and the industry's rapid transition toward digital distribution. Its PS5 physical edition became a major success for PM Studios, making Sony's planned end of new PlayStation disc production particularly significant for the publisher.

PM Studios' response is not simply to leave physical publishing behind. Instead, the company is expanding into digital publishing, broader development support and the AA games market, while continuing to produce selected physical editions. The result is a strategic shift from a business centered on discs toward one built around publishing, investment and multiple distribution models.