Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has shared his feelings on Sony's impending shift away from physical game discs, describing the decision as "dramatic" and admitting it makes him "kind of sad, as a fan."
Sony is reportedly planning to cease production of physical disc releases for its games by 2028. While many fans have expressed displeasure, Layden, who is no longer with Sony, indicated that the decision was not sudden and likely stems from extensive financial analysis. "I think there's probably a whole lot of financial analysis that went behind this decision, which made them do that," he stated, adding, "I won’t take issue with that, because I’m not a finance guy."
However, from a personal standpoint as a consumer of games, Layden finds the transition regrettable. He recounted his own habits, preferring digital purchases for games like Call of Duty but desiring a physical presence for titles such as God of War, where he values the box, artwork, and disc as part of his collection.
Layden's sentiment echoes that of other notable figures in the gaming industry, including Hideo Kojima, who has also voiced sorrow over the move. The dwindling future of physical media is a point of grief for many collectors and long-time gamers who appreciate the tangible aspect of game ownership.
Despite the broader industry trend, Layden noted that it may still be possible to acquire physical copies of certain upcoming titles, citing Santa Monica Studio's potential release of "God of War Laufey" prior to the 2028 cutoff.
