Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Says Sony Can't Get Away With Making PS6 Disc-less

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO, Shawn Layden, believes Sony cannot afford to release a completely digital, disc-less PlayStation 6. While acknowledging Xbox's success with this strategy, Layden emphasizes Sony's significantly larger global market share. Eliminating physical games would alienate a substantial portion of their user base.

Layden highlighted that Xbox's digital-first approach thrives primarily in English-speaking countries, unlike Sony's expansive reach across approximately 170 nations. He questioned the feasibility of a disc-less console for users in regions with limited internet access, citing examples like rural Italy. He also pointed to specific demographics reliant on physical media, such as athletes traveling or military personnel on bases. Layden suggested Sony is likely assessing the potential market loss before committing to a fully digital future. The key question, he posed, is determining the acceptable level of market share loss before abandoning physical games.

The debate surrounding disc-less consoles has been ongoing since the PlayStation 4 era, but gained momentum with Xbox's release of digital-only consoles. Both PlayStation and Xbox offer digital-only versions of their current-generation consoles, yet Sony has been hesitant to fully embrace a disc-less model. This is partly due to the option to add a disc drive to even their high-end digital PS5 models. However, the rise of subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus's Games Catalog fuels speculation about the future of physical media.

Physical game sales continue to decline, and many major publishers are releasing games requiring internet connectivity for installation, even those distributed on disc. Examples include Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla (Note: The original text incorrectly stated Shadows, likely a typo) and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. This trend effectively transforms what were once secondary installation discs into downloadable content. As physical discs become less crucial, the industry is shifting towards a digital-first approach.

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