Kenzo Saruhashi, CEO of Nippon Ichi Software and president of its subsidiary NIS America, has revealed that the company is actively discussing Sony's upcoming discontinuation of physical game disc manufacturing with the console manufacturer.
Sony announced its decision to cease the production of physical game discs starting in 2028, a move that has raised concerns among publishers, particularly those like Nippon Ichi that frequently produce physical limited editions. Saruhashi stated that while his company is operating with the same public information as everyone else, he is optimistic about the ongoing dialogue.
"But speaking for myself, I know that a big part of our business model, particularly with NISA, is producing our physical limited editions and that’s an important part of our business and we, for our part, intend to continue making those physical editions and delivering the exceptional quality that our customers are expecting of us," Saruhashi said.
Addressing the possibility of a shift to a "code in the box" format, Saruhashi acknowledged it as one potential outcome but suggested that discussions with Sony might lead to other resolutions. "In our discussions with Sony so far, I think that they’re hearing a lot of the feedback from customers and so while that may be one destination that we arrive at, it’s possible that the discussion may change in the future, so we’ll have to see what happens, what comes of it."
This sentiment is echoed by reports that PlayStation has been surveying game developers about their physical game sales practices following the backlash to the disc discontinuation announcement. While it remains uncertain if Sony will alter its plans, Saruhashi's comments indicate a potential for compromise, possibly allowing for limited physical releases for special editions. However, as of now, the end of physical disc production is expected to proceed as scheduled at the close of 2028.