The Shift to Digital
The debate surrounding Sony's plan to phase out physical PS5 discs has continued since the summer.
Ken Kutaragi, the engineer who led the development of the original PlayStation, PS2, and PS3, acknowledges that players are upset about the end of disc production, but notes that maintaining physical media is no longer economically reasonable.
Speaking at the Game Republic New Horizons conference in Middlesbrough, England, the former executive explained that physical discs have come to symbolize game ownership, and resistance to a disc-free console may stem from a traditional mindset.
Industry Comparisons
Kutaragi compared modern consoles to smartphones, noting that with widespread internet connectivity, users expect content to remain accessible. Meanwhile, Sony's official stance in legal filings maintains that consumers purchase a license to play digital downloads rather than owning the software outright.
He also suggested that current leadership views the platform as a content terminal rather than a traditional game console, a trajectory he anticipated as early as 2006.
Sales Trends and Statistics
Sony announced plans to stop manufacturing disc-based PlayStation games beginning in January 2028, citing consumer preference for digital formats. Digital downloads accounted for 82 percent of PS4 and PS5 full-game sales between April and June, while physical software generated a small fraction of total software revenue.
Industry Reactions
Kutaragi is one of several former PlayStation executives to comment on the transition, joining figures like Shuhei Yoshida and Shawn Layden in offering perspectives on the future of physical media.
Legislative efforts are also underway, with a proposed congressional bill aiming to establish consumer ownership rights for purchased digital media and require offline modes before game servers shut down.
