"Ex-PlayStation Exec Warns Sony Against Disc-less PS6"

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of launching the PlayStation 6 as an all-digital, disc-less console. In a discussion with Kiwi Talkz, Layden emphasized that while Xbox has managed to succeed with this approach, PlayStation's extensive global market share means that going entirely digital could alienate a significant portion of its user base.

"I don't think Sony can get away with it now," Layden remarked. He pointed out that Xbox's success with digital-only consoles is largely confined to English-speaking countries such as the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In contrast, PlayStation leads the market in approximately 170 countries worldwide. Layden questioned the impact on users in regions with limited internet access, such as rural Italy, and those who rely on physical media, like traveling athletes and military personnel stationed in remote locations.

Layden suggested that Sony is likely conducting research to determine what percentage of its market could be left behind by moving to a fully digital model. He noted that while there might be a point where Sony decides it can afford to lose a certain segment of its market, the company's vast global presence makes a complete shift to disc-less consoles challenging.

The debate over digital-only consoles has been ongoing since the PlayStation 4 era and intensified with Xbox's introduction of digital-only versions. Both Sony and Microsoft have released digital-only versions of their current-generation consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, but Sony has continued to offer options for physical media. For instance, even the high-end $700 PlayStation 5 Pro can be upgraded with a separate disc drive to play physical games.

The shift toward digital gaming is further evidenced by subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Catalog. However, as physical media sales decline and major publishers release games that require internet connections even for disc-based versions, the future of physical games remains uncertain. Examples include Ubisoft's Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, both of which need an internet connection to install, signaling a trend where content traditionally provided on a second disc is now delivered as downloadable content.