Former head of PlayStation Studios Shawn Layden did not appreciate Sony's decision to cease production of discs for PlayStation consoles starting in 2028. He believes that transitioning to a fully digital distribution could significantly damage the corporation's reputation and result in the loss of its loyal audience.
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Layden shared his opinion during The Expansion Pass podcast. During the discussion, he acknowledged the convenience of digital game editions and speculated that about 80% of gamers might opt for them currently. However, the remaining 20%, according to him, are especially crucial for Sony: among them are many staunch supporters of the company and collectors who sometimes purchase two copies of a game—one for playing and another to add to their disc collection.
Furthermore, Layden believes the discontinuation of discs raises the issue of ownership rights to games once again.
“If you can’t sell something, then you don’t own it. And if you don’t own it, then what are you buying? If you’re merely purchasing access to a game, then, frankly, it doesn’t sound very appealing. And people, as is often the case, tend to imagine the worst-case scenario,” added the former head of PlayStation Studios.
Layden emphasized that he is unaware of the financial reasons that guided Sony's decision; nonetheless, he is not convinced they are justified.