Resident Evil movie director Zach Cregger has weighed in on the ongoing discussion surrounding physical media, expressing a personal shift away from its necessity. While not directly addressing Sony's stated plans to end support for physical game discs on PlayStation consoles by 2028, Cregger shared his general perspective with IndieWire.
Cregger admitted that he is "not a physical media guy" anymore, explaining that in the past, he frequently misplaced or damaged his physical game collections. He also cited a lack of storage space as a contributing factor to his evolving stance. For Cregger, the convenience of digital downloads offers assurance that a game will always be accessible when needed.
However, he acknowledged the valid concerns about digital ownership, noting that companies retain the ability to revoke access to purchased digital titles. "And, yeah, that's too bad. I don't like that," Cregger stated, recognizing the uncertainty that comes with relying solely on digital distribution.
Sony's move to cease support for physical discs in 2028 has drawn criticism from players who continue to purchase physical copies. Millions of physical game discs were sold by Sony in the past year alone, indicating a substantial segment of the market still favors this format. After January 2028, games will only be available digitally through the PlayStation Store for PlayStation consoles.
Industry experts suggest that Sony's decision is primarily driven by profitability and a desire for greater control over the market. In parallel, Microsoft has introduced a disc-to-digital program for Xbox, and there are indications that its next-generation console, codenamed Project Helix, may also be disc-less. This strategy could allow both companies to offset potential revenue shortfalls if next-generation consoles are priced at $1,000 or more, by exclusively selling digital games which typically offer higher profit margins.