Former CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios, Shawn Layden, has expressed that Sony cannot afford to launch the PlayStation 6 as an entirely digital, disc-less console. In a discussion with Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has successfully ventured into digital-only consoles, Sony's extensive global market share means that going disc-less would alienate a significant portion of its user base.
Layden noted, "I don't think Sony can get away with it now. I think Xbox has had more success in pursuing that strategy, but Xbox is really most successful in their business in a clutch of countries: the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. Coincidentally enough, all English speaking countries." He emphasized that Sony, being the leading platform in approximately 170 countries, has a responsibility to consider the impact of a disc-less transition on its diverse market. He questioned the feasibility of such a move for users in regions like rural Italy, where internet connectivity might not support digital gaming.
Layden also mentioned other segments of the market that depend on physical media, such as traveling athletes and military bases. He speculated that Sony is likely researching the potential impact on these groups, pondering at what point the company could justify moving away from them. "Which part of your market will be damaged by going to a disc-less market?" Layden asked, indicating that Sony is probably analyzing the data to find a tipping point where the shift to a fully digital platform might be acceptable.
The debate over disc-less consoles has been a topic in the gaming industry since the PlayStation 4 era, intensifying with Xbox's introduction of digital-only consoles. Both Sony and Microsoft have released digital-only versions of their current consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, but Sony has maintained the option for physical media through upgradeable disc drives, even in its high-end $700 PlayStation 5 Pro model.
As digital distribution services like Xbox Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Catalog grow, questions arise about the future of physical media. Sales of physical games are declining, and some major publishers are releasing games that require an internet connection to install or play, even if purchased on disc. Examples include Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. This trend suggests that what used to be included on a second disc is now often provided as downloadable content, further diminishing the role of physical media.
