French Politics Reignite Debate on Digital Game “Ownership” After Sony Ends Discs

French presidential contender Jean-Luc Mélenchon, representing the left-wing party La France Insoumise, is pushing for fresh rules around digital game purchases after Sony said it will stop producing physical disc versions in 2028. The move has reignited an old debate: if more games become download-only, what “ownership” even means for players who buy them.

Critics argue the shift is alarming for several reasons. Digital purchases are effectively licenses that can be withdrawn without reimbursement; removing discs also kills the second-hand market; and the risk of delisting or store closures can leave whole libraries inaccessible over time. On top of that, a closed digital ecosystem can concentrate control in one platform holder, potentially locking players into Sony’s store and pricing. Sony has indicated it’s already moving to repurpose its facilities, so a reversal doesn’t look likely—though Mélenchon has now added his voice to the backlash.

In a post on X, Mélenchon—translating the message from French and presented in English via DeepL—linked the issue to the upcoming release cycle. He referenced GTA 6 being positioned as a disc-free release in 2026 and Sony’s 2028 end date for physical disc sales, then argued that the industry will increasingly sell products without granting true possession. He said the result would be no loans, no resale, and no certainty that players will keep access to what they paid for. Framing games as more than standard goods, he called for existing law to be applied to video games as cultural assets, adding that his campaign would begin in 2027 and that “gamers have rights too.”

Quick scan facts

• Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise) is advocating new legislation on digital purchases.
• Sony plans to stop making physical game discs in 2028, and is already repurposing facilities.
• Mélenchon said GTA 6 is set to be a disc-free title in 2026.
• He argued digital purchases are licenses that can be revoked without compensation, with no resale or guarantees of continued access.
• He said the campaign would launch in 2027 and emphasized that “gamers have rights too.”
• European Commission response: it cannot require games to remain playable after commercial support ends.
• US effort: California’s “Protect Our Games Act” (AB 1921) stalled in a state senate committee.
• Late-2025 polls described Mélenchon as the figure receiving the most antipathy in France.
• In 2022, he finished third behind Marine Le Pen and Emmanuel Macron, after initially saying he would step aside.
• He has launched a fourth presidential bid for 2027, citing an approaching economic and social crisis driven by global conflict and climate change.

How Much Influence Does Mélenchon Hold?

Even with political attention, game preservation advocates haven’t seen much progress recently. About two weeks earlier, the European Commission responded to the Stop Killing Games campaign, stating it cannot propose a legal requirement to keep video games playable once they stop being supplied commercially. For supporters of digital ownership, that reply was a major setback.

In the United States, a separate attempt has also hit friction. Earlier this week, California’s proposed “Protect Our Games Act” (AB 1921), introduced by Assemblymember Chris Ward, was stalled in a state senate committee. Despite these setbacks, the Stop Killing Games movement says it remains committed to pushing the issue forward.

As for Mélenchon’s practical ability to affect policy—especially if he were to reach the Élysée Palace—he’s widely seen as a highly divisive political figure. He still holds a large base among younger voters, but recent polling has suggested his favorability is far from universal.

Several late-2025 polls placed him as the political personality attracting the most opposition across the French electorate. In 2022, he narrowly secured third place behind far-right leader Marine Le Pen and President Emmanuel Macron. At the time, he had said he would step aside so a younger generation could take control.

That plan changed: Mélenchon later reversed his retirement stance and officially kicked off a fourth bid for the presidency in 2027. He framed the decision as a response to what he described as an impending “economic and social crisis approaching,” driven by broad global conflict and worsening climate change.

$1,000 digital-only consoles are eroding the appeal of PlayStation and Xbox—so it’s no surprise PC is positioned to pass them.