PlayStation's impending shift away from game discs has drawn criticism from Disgaea creator Sohei Niikawa, who believes the move diminishes the value of physical game ownership and, by extension, the necessity of game consoles.
Niikawa, formerly the president of Nippon Ichi Software, stated in a recent interview that physical editions of games hold significant importance for fans. He highlighted their value as tangible mementos and keepsakes, noting that players often bring them to conventions for developers to sign, turning them into personal decorations and memories. "Physical games are important because they can carry that kind of meaning," he told Noisy Pixel.
While acknowledging the business rationale behind Sony's decision to transition to digital-only distribution by 2028, Niikawa suggested that executives may not fully grasp the emotional connection fans have with physical games, particularly evident at events like Anime Expo. He pointed to the example of the original Disgaea: Hour of Darkness, which launched in 2003 with a comprehensive instruction manual alongside its disc, a stark contrast to today's disc-less cases.
Sony's strategy will still involve publishers shipping empty game boxes to retailers, which will then contain download codes. Grand Theft Auto VI is slated to adopt this approach upon its release in November. However, Niikawa posited that if Sony is committed to eliminating physical media, it should logically extend to consoles themselves. "If they’re going to get rid of physical packages, they may as well eliminate the hardware too," he argued. "A television would be enough. Why would you need the console? If you’re going to get rid of physical games, you may as well go all the way."
Niikawa has since founded his own game company and is preparing to release a new strategy RPG, Demons’ Night Fever, which will feature a physical version later this year.