Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed his belief that Sony cannot afford to launch the PlayStation 6 as a fully digital, disc-less console. Speaking on Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has embraced this strategy with some success, PlayStation's vast global market share means it would alienate too many consumers by eliminating physical and offline gaming options.
"I don't think Sony can get away with it now," Layden stated. "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. Sony's market is globally so huge, I think it would be hard for them to go fully disc-less."
He emphasized Sony's responsibility towards its extensive user base, noting, "Sony, which is the number one platform in probably 170 countries around the world, has an obligation or a responsibility to say, 'If we go discless, how much of my market is not able to make that jump? Can users in rural Italy get a decent connection to enjoy games?'"
Layden also mentioned specific demographics, such as traveling athletes and military personnel, who rely on physical media for gaming. He suggested that Sony is likely conducting research to determine how many of these groups it could afford to move away from. "Which part of your market will be damaged by going to a disc-less market?" Layden asked. "I'm sure they're doing their research on it. And there will be a tipping point, where there's some percentage where you can say, 'Okay, that's fine, we can turn our back on that part of the market.' But Sony's market is globally so huge, I think it would be hard for them to go fully disc-less, even with the next generation."
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-only versions of their current consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, yet Sony has maintained the option to add a disc drive to its digital consoles, including the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro.
With Xbox pushing forward with services like Game Pass and Sony responding with the PlayStation Plus Games Catalog, questions persist about the future of physical game media. Sales of physical media are declining, and major publishers are increasingly releasing games that require an internet connection for installation, even when sold on disc. Examples include Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which both necessitate an online connection for setup.
Furthermore, what used to be provided as a second disc for additional content is now often distributed as downloadable content, reflecting a broader industry shift away from physical media.
