Hideki Kamiya, a prominent figure in game development known for his work on franchises like Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil 2, and Okami, has expressed his views on the ongoing discussion surrounding physical versus digital game distribution. In an interview with Video Games Chronicle, Kamiya stated that his primary concern is not the format of game sales but rather the long-term preservation of games for future generations.
Kamiya admitted that he personally purchases only digital games and sees the industry's shift in that direction as inevitable. "I don’t buy a single physical game these days – every single game I buy is 100% digital, so I look at that decision and think, 'Yeah, I guess this is where things were heading,'" he told the outlet.
However, he emphasized that the physical versus digital debate is secondary to the responsibility of intellectual property holders. "That’s the big thing for me, is whether or not the IP holders are going to take responsibility for ensuring that all of these games will continue to be available to future generations in order for them to be played," Kamiya explained. "Whether that’s physically or digitally is less important to me, just so long as these games will be available to people in the future."
He pointed to the existing challenge of many older classic games being unplayable on modern hardware. Kamiya hopes that publishers will recognize this issue and make efforts to keep their back catalogs accessible, not just for gameplay but also to preserve and foster game culture. "To me, it’s less important whether the games are made available physically or digitally, but that they’re made available at all," he stated.
This perspective aligns with recent industry trends, including publishers re-releasing or remaking older titles for current platforms, allowing new audiences to experience them and older fans to revisit them. Kamiya's sentiment also echoes the goals of fan-driven initiatives like the Stop Killing Games movement and the Video Game History Foundation, both of which are dedicated to preserving game history and ensuring consumer access to digital titles. The Stop Killing Games group is currently involved in a lawsuit against PlayStation concerning its plans to cease physical disc production in January 2028, arguing the move constitutes anti-competitive practices.