Former PlayStation boss warns Sony’s 2028 disc shutdown could hurt: ‘This is an extremely important 20%’ of physical game collectors

Shawn Layden, former head of PlayStation Worldwide Studios, recently spoke on The Expansion Pass podcast and said that ending disc production by January 2028 will turn a game purchase into an access purchase, while Sony’s metrics show that 82% of full game units are already digital downloads. Layden says ending record production will significantly damage the company’s brand.

During the interview, he said he is now out of the loop and unaware of Sony’s current financial circumstances, which may have led to the decision to drop the record. Physical software accounted for about 4% of the company’s software revenue, and Sony’s chief financial officer said the company would still move forward with the plan regardless of the negative reactions.

Shawn Layden, on the other hand, disagrees with this sentiment because, while the majority of PlayStation gamers purchase games digitally, a segment of collectors will always want to have physical editions to add to their shelves or libraries. Layden said:

“Not having been in the room. I don’t know what the stressors were on that, or what the spreadsheet said, because I’m sure it’s a spreadsheet decision, where costs are contained and profits are extracted. I don’t know any of that.”

Layden further emphasized the benefits of owning digital games, which offer a certain convenience, but ultimately sides with physical media. He explained:

“I really think gamers are… yeah, we like digital downloads. People were like, ‘oh, downloading a game is easier than going to the store.’ No, no. Downloading a game is easier than walking across the living room to put a disc in the machine. I don’t even have to do it. I just press a button on the controller and I don’t have to move. And the convenience of this is undisputed.”

Then he took the side of physical collectors and said:

“But I think, particularly in the realm of games, maybe 80% of people download, and 20% don’t, or whatever the breakdown is. But that’s a very important 20%. I mean, these are largely the most loyal of the faithful. I mean, a lot of times, people who buy two copies of every game, right? One never leaves the wrap. And you play with the other. It’s just like comic book collectors. You always buy two comics.”

However, no interview or reply will stop the date set by Sony for the end of production of the disc. Games released on disc before January 2028 will remain unaffected, and PlayStation will no longer have disc after 2028.

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