I think we’re at the point where this hardly matters.

• Make backups? No, they’ve been encrypted for decades.
• Slot in a game so you don’t have to juggle the internal limited storage? No, you have to copy disc contents to storage anyway.
• Use disc data to avoid needing to download on slow internet? No, already made meaningless by enormous day 1 patches.
• Keep access to media when accounts may be banned and digital titles may be revoked? No, the always-online games can be deactivated whenever the publisher wants. There’s no reason to expect them to permit your console to play disallowed offline games either. “Age assurance” is going to come for games, and if your account doesn’t have the flag, your 18+ disc won’t work.

It’s sad for discs to be discontinued, but it’s just formalising what’s already true.

I guess what they intend with this move is to kill the second-hand games market. The absolute bastards.