Ex-PlayStation Boss Slams Sony's Disc Decision as 'Insidious'

What do you really own when you buy a game? That's the question former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden is asking, and he's not happy with the answer Sony seems to be giving.

Layden, who joined Sony in 1987 and eventually became chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios before retiring in 2019, shared his thoughts on The Expansion Pass podcast. He gets why digital is convenient, but he's worried about what we lose when discs disappear. If roughly 80% of people download games and only 20% buy physical, Layden says "that's a super important 20%." These are the most "faithful of the faithful" players—the ones who'll buy multiple copies of a game just to keep in their collection.

"I don't agree with that decision," Layden said plainly. He admits he has no idea what PlayStation's spreadsheets look like or what financial realities pushed Sony this way. But he sees a bigger problem: the shift changes the conversation from "do you own a game?" to "do you have access to a digital asset?"

And that's where things get "insidious," according to Layden. "If you can't sell a thing, that means you don't own a thing," he explained. "And if you don't own it, then what are you buying? If you're buying access, that doesn't quite sound as sexy, to be honest." He warns that people will naturally imagine the worst-case scenario—and that could mean a significant brand hit for PlayStation. "I hope it made sense to them," he added.

For collectors, this hits close to home. The issue of game ownership has always been a major concern with PlayStation's impending all-digital stance. Market experts have pointed out that a substantial portion of Sony's biggest games still make tons of money on disc, but the company seems more focused on controlling the market than pleasing physical-first fans.

Layden has voiced skepticism before, noting that "the market has said they will continue to buy them" and suggesting Sony's move could "heavily influence" how Xbox and Nintendo handle physical games going forward. He's not alone—a JRPG boss whose business relies on physical games said PlayStation is "hearing the feedback from customers" on discs.

Still, Sony seems committed. And as Layden hints, selling a PS6 for $1,000 with only modest improvements and no disc drive? That's going to be a tough pitch. What do you think—are you ready to go all-digital, or will you stick with discs as long as you can?