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 model, Layden emphasizes PlayStation'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 strategy thrives primarily in English-speaking countries, unlike Sony's expansive reach across approximately 170 nations. He questioned Sony's ability to ensure reliable digital access for players in regions with less developed internet infrastructure, citing examples like rural Italy. He also pointed to user groups reliant on physical media, such as athletes traveling or military personnel stationed on bases with limited connectivity.

Layden suggested Sony is likely assessing the potential market impact of a disc-less console, acknowledging a threshold where sacrificing a segment of the market might be acceptable. However, he maintains that Sony's massive global presence makes a fully disc-less transition highly challenging, even for the next generation.

The debate surrounding disc-less consoles has intensified since the PlayStation 4 era, fueled by Xbox's digital-only releases. Both PlayStation and Xbox offer digital-only console variants (PS5 Digital Edition and Xbox Series S), but Sony has thus far resisted a complete shift away from physical media. This is further evidenced by the availability of external disc drives for their digital consoles, including the PS5 Digital Edition.

Despite the rise of subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus, and the declining sales of physical media, many publishers are releasing games requiring internet connectivity even for disc-based versions. Examples include Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, which necessitate online access for installation. This trend effectively renders the physical disc a mere download installer, diminishing its traditional role.

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This shift towards digital distribution, coupled with the decreasing relevance of physical discs, raises questions about the long-term viability of disc-based games.