Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed doubts about Sony launching the PlayStation 6 as an entirely digital, disc-less console. In an interview with Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has seen success with this approach, PlayStation's vast global market share means it would alienate too many users by eliminating physical and offline games.
"I don't think Sony can get away with it now," Layden stated. He pointed out that Xbox's success with a digital-only strategy is largely confined to English-speaking countries like the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In contrast, "Sony's market is globally so huge, I think it would be hard for them to go fully disc-less." Layden emphasized Sony's responsibility as the leading platform in around 170 countries to consider the impact on users, such as those in rural areas like Italy, who might not have reliable internet connections to enjoy digital games.
Layden further discussed the challenges faced by groups such as traveling athletes and military personnel who rely on physical or offline gaming. He suggested that Sony is likely researching the potential impact of moving away from these groups. "Which part of your market will be damaged by going to a disc-less market?" he asked, indicating that Sony is assessing the tipping point where they might be able to turn their back on certain market segments. However, given Sony's extensive global reach, Layden believes that a fully disc-less PlayStation 6 would be difficult to implement.
The debate over digital-only consoles has been ongoing since the PlayStation 4 era but intensified with Xbox's introduction of digital-only models. Both Sony and Microsoft have released digital versions of their current consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, but Sony has maintained the option for users to add a disc drive, even to high-end models like the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro. With services like Xbox Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Catalog gaining popularity, the industry is questioning the future of physical media.
The decline in physical media sales and the trend of games requiring internet connections even when purchased on disc—such as Ubisoft's Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor—underscore the shift towards digital distribution. What used to be additional content on a second disc is now often delivered as downloadable content, further diminishing the role of physical discs.
