Sony’s announcement last week that they will stop production of physical games for all games released beginning in 2028 has shaken the industry. The outcry from players, publishers and retailers has been intense. Today Astrolabe Games, an indie publisher most known for the Blazblue Entropy franchise is the latest to stand up in support for physical games with a new statement from the company.
They are calling it their “The A-Go Manifesto” and it is their firm commitment to physical PlayStation 5 releases moving forward despite Sony’s announcement. With this manifesto Astrolabe says they will ensure they produce a physical PlayStation 5 edition for all their games as long as they are eligible.
“Physical games are more than simple products – they are lasting testaments to the passion, artistry, and countless hours developers pour into their craft. The A-GO Manifesto is our promise to players and developers alike: give it A GO, and so will we.” said Jokery Zhou, Founder of Astrolabe Games.
As you will see in the full manifesto below, there are quite a few caveats for what Astrolabe is talking about. For example this commitment is only as good for as long as PlayStation makes discs, which means this will no longer apply in 2028.
Still this is a publisher speaking out and showing support for physical games. While I personally collect on Xbox, physical games is very important to me regardless of platform so any support is welcome.
Will Astrolabe perhaps begin publishing more on Xbox if it means more physical versions? When asked for comment they wouldn’t provide me any specifics but did say “We may have some interesting news coming up later this year for Xbox (given they don’t “pivot” too much away from the right direction!).” Interesting.
You can see the full manifesto below.
About “The A-GO Manifesto”
The A-GO Manifesto takes its name from both the Chinese pronunciation of the publisher’s brand (?
?, “A-Go”) and the English phrase “give something a go.” It embodies the idea of “giving physical
releases a shot.” The details are as follows:
- Eligible Titles
This commitment applies to unreleased titles for which Astrolabe Games serves as the global publisher.
Eligible titles shall have a PlayStation 5 release candidate, and must be approved for release on that
platform on or before June 1, 2027, allowing the physical edition to launch no later than the second half
of 2027. - Implementation
For all eligible titles, Astrolabe Games guarantees that it will produce, manufacture, and distribute at
least a run at minimum order quantity of PS5 physical editions in at least one region (NA/EMEA/Asia).
However, due to differences in regional distribution conditions, expected market demand, and individual
development schedules, Astrolabe Games cannot guarantee availability in every territory worldwide. - Exceptions
This manifesto is a goodwill commitment made by Astrolabe Games as an independent game publisher
to the developers it works with. As such, if uncontrollable circumstances prevent the production of a
PS5 physical edition, Astrolabe Games will not be liable for compensation. Such circumstances include,
but are not limited to:
- Platform holders introducing new policies that make production impossible.
- Regional distribution partners reaching capacity as the production deadline approaches.
- Distribution partners being unable to accommodate the consignment requirements of smaller
publishers. - Developers being unable to deliver a qualified PS5 master build by the required deadline.
- Titles that do not have a PlayStation 5 version.
- Developers choosing not to proceed with the production of a PlayStation 5 version.
The following announced Astrolabe Games titles have already been confirmed as eligible and will
receive physical editions as originally planned: - Gurei – Expected Q4 2026
- Fall Up – Expected First Half 2027
- OMEGA PHENEX COMMENCED PROJECT SIX – Expected Second Half 2027
