Sony confirms it will no longer provide full game digital download codes to shops Eurogamer net

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• © 2026 Eurogamer.net a brand of IGN Entertainment, Inc.
• At the time of publication, shops in the UK are still selling full game download codes.
• The video game retailer, which became a symbol of the 2021 meme-stock craze, is preparing to close multiple stores across several states this month as part of ongoing efforts to cut costs and adapt to shifting shopping habits, according to local reports and notices shared by customers.
• As of early 2025, GameStop reported operating around 3,200 stores globally, with 2,325 locations in the United States.
• PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services.
• Notably, last week, GameStop pledged billions in stock options to CEO Ryan Cohen if he could increase the company’s market cap from its current $9.3 billion to $100 billion.

With expert analysis and practical solutions across consumer electronics, software, security, and more, PCMag helps consumers make informed buying decisions and get the most from their tech. Confirming the news in a statement issued to Eurogamer, Sony said it took the decision “in order to continue to align key businesses globally”. Digital games will only be available straight from PSN after that date.

This comes after the retailer shut down 590 stores in 2024 as part of its cost-cutting measures.

Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology. The SEC filing and reports of further closures indicate a reduction of around 20-30% of its physical stores. The list updates regularly, and as of publishing, it names 471 stores spread across more than 40 states.

GameStop reported operating 2,325 U.S. stores in early 2025

As Polygon reports, citing a blog that tracks these closures, GameStop will shut down over 400 stores this year. A memo to GameStop staff over the weekend revealed Sony would no longer give retailers full game download codes from 1st April. From in-depth reviews to the latest news and how-to guides, PCMag is the go-to source for staying ahead in the digital world.

60 Whitechapel High Street, London, E1 7PE, United Kingdom. © 2026 Eurogamer.net a brand of IGN Entertainment, Inc. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies The store manager posted on Facebook that the closure happened earlier than expected “due to circumstances outside of our control.” One recently closed location, in Thompson, Maine, shut on January 5.

The blog maintains a state-by-state list of locations on the chopping block, and it gathers its data from GameStop employees and the retailer’s own store locator. The trend has hit the retailer hard, and it is reportedly closing a significant number of its US stores. At the time of publication, shops in the UK are still selling full game download codes. It means digital games will soon only be available from PlayStation Network. Sony has confirmed its plan to stop giving shops full game download codes to sell. As of early 2025, GameStop reported operating around 3,200 stores globally, with 2,325 locations in the United States.

Sony confirms it will no longer provide full game digital download codes to shops

Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience. Notably, last week, GameStop pledged billions in stock options to CEO Ryan Cohen if he could increase the company’s market cap from its current $9.3 billion to $100 billion. The store closures are part of GameStop’s cost-cutting measures.

Headquartered in Grapevine, Texas, GameStop is the world’s online casinos no gamestop largest video game retailer. Over the past 12 months, their stock has declined around 36 percent, Fast Company reports. In a December Securities and Exchange Commission filing, GameStop confirmed they were closing a “significant number of additional stores” during its 2025 fiscal year, which ends January 31, 2026.

For over 40 years, PCMag has been a trusted authority on technology, delivering independent, labs-based reviews of the latest products and services. PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering lab-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. With the rise of digital downloads, buying physical copies of games at GameStop brick-and-mortar stores has become less of a necessity for many gamers. GameStop stores just got a memo saying that Sony will no longer provide full game digital download codes to retailers (not just GameStop) starting April 1st. The video game retailer, which became a symbol of the 2021 meme-stock craze, is preparing to close multiple stores across several states this month as part of ongoing efforts to cut costs and adapt to shifting shopping habits, according to local reports and notices shared by customers. Our team tests, rates, and reviews more than 1,500 products each year to help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.