Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot has stated that PlayStation's increasing shift away from physical disc production is unlikely to cause major disruption to the gaming industry. During a recent Ubisoft financial call, Guillemot commented on the ongoing debate surrounding digital-only consoles, suggesting that the move could even contribute to lower hardware costs.
Guillemot drew parallels to the PC market, where digital distribution has become the dominant format. He noted that a digital-only approach can "help to have more accessible machine," potentially lowering the barrier to entry for new console hardware. While acknowledging that there are both advantages and disadvantages to this transition, he concluded that the overall impact on the industry would not be excessively disruptive.
This perspective comes as digital game sales continue to rise, with recent financial reports indicating a strong preference for digital purchases across platforms. For example, Capcom reported that 93 percent of its sales were digital in the past year. The PC market, largely driven by storefronts like Steam, is now almost entirely digital. While physical sales still account for millions of units annually, the trend clearly favors digital distribution, a trajectory that is expected to continue even with major upcoming releases potentially foregoing physical editions.
The potential for reduced console costs due to the elimination of disc drives is a point supported by the increasing expense of hardware. However, the necessity for larger internal storage to accommodate an all-digital library could introduce its own set of cost considerations, as memory is a significant component of hardware expense.
Guillemot's comments place him among various industry figures who have weighed in on the matter. While some, like Hideo Kojima, have expressed sadness over the potential loss of physical media, others, such as Sohei Niikawa, creator of Disgaea, have offered more critical viewpoints on Sony's direction.