End of PlayStation discs will kill off CeX and used games market claim analysts

The end of PlayStation discs will be a death sentence for CeX, the last bastion of the used games market in the UK. The retailer's 380 outlets across the country have been a lifeline for gamers on a budget, but analysts are predicting that Sony's decision to stop producing game discs will be the final nail in the coffin. The used games market, valued at a staggering £5.4 billion in 2025, is expected to continue shrinking and eventually disappear, with CeX and other second-hand marketplaces bearing the brunt of the impact.

The used games market has been a vital part of the gaming industry, with console games accounting for 42.3% of the global revenue. The likes of GameStop, eBay, Decluttr, and Amazon have been the major players in this market, with North America generating the most revenue at 36.8%. However, with Sony's decision to stop producing game discs, the future of these retailers looks bleak. Michael Pachter, managing director of strategic planning at Wedbush Securities, believes that the used games market is doomed. He stated that at least one third of games have been sold historically as used, and these sales provided currency for gamers to purchase new games.

The impact of Sony's decision will not be limited to CeX and other second-hand marketplaces. Xbox and Nintendo may follow suit, potentially wiping out the used games market altogether. This would have a ripple effect on the gaming industry as a whole, with gamers being forced to pay full price for new games. The report from Dataintelo suggests that the global second-hand game market was valued at $7.2 billion in 2025 and was projected to reach $13.8 billion by 2034. However, with Sony's announcement, this projection may be put in jeopardy.

The used games market has been a lifeline for gamers on a budget. The widening gap between the cost of new games and consumer willingness to pay has been exacerbated by inflationary pressures on household budgets. This has led to a surge in demand for second-hand games, with many gamers turning to retailers like CeX to purchase pre-owned games. However, with the end of game discs, this option may soon be a thing of the past.

Kazunori Ito, director of equity research at Morningstar, believes that the used games market will eventually disappear. He stated that there is an important difference between the used games market and other forms of used goods. The used games market is driven by the desire to purchase new games, and without game discs, this market will collapse.In the end, the used games market as we know it is on the brink of collapse. CeX, the last bastion of the used games market in the UK, will likely be the first to feel the effects of Sony's decision. As the gaming industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether gamers will be forced to pay full price for new games or whether retailers like CeX will find a way to adapt to this new reality.