Sony Going Digital-Only? CyberConnect 2 CEO Says It's a Win for Devs

Ever wondered what game developers really think about Sony killing off physical discs in 2028? Well, one studio boss just said the quiet part out loud — and he thinks it's a good thing.

Hiroshi Matsuyama, CEO of CyberConnect 2 (the studio behind Naruto: Ultimate Ninja and the .hack series), took to X to share his take on the digital-only shift. According to him, going all-digital is "nothing but a positive thing" — at least from a developer's perspective. His reasoning? Money. Digital games are simply more profitable. When his studio makes physical copies, it has to buy discs and game cards directly from manufacturers like Nintendo and Sony, which adds a whole extra layer of expense. Cut that out, and you save a ton.

Matsuyama gets why players love physical. "Culturally, physical copies were a normal thing," he admitted. But he argues that discs just can't compete with the convenience of digital anymore. He even pointed to Capcom and Square Enix, noting that over 90% of their sales are digital. When that's the reality, continuing to produce physical editions doesn't make financial sense. "Developers work for their salaries," he said, and profit matters. His blunt challenge: "If you want to release physical games even if it means that salaries will be reduced, then sure, I can make it happen — but I don't think there's anyone willing to do that."

So does that mean physical games are vanishing overnight? Not exactly. Matsuyama doesn't think discs will disappear suddenly, and he expects codes-in-boxes to stick around for a while. But actual discs? In his view, they "are doomed to fail." He also doesn't think it's realistic to keep supporting physical copies "for a minority of collectors and enthusiasts."

He then brought up the elephant in the room: GTA 6. Rockstar's massive upcoming title is digital-only because it's "too big to fit on a physical disc." According to Matsuyama, most modern games are simply too large for discs now, which is exactly why the industry is shifting to digital releases. And for him, that shift is important — and beneficial. "There will be nothing but positive things," he said. "Profitability will rise much faster, and developers will get more bonuses."

Of course, not everyone shares his enthusiasm. Sony's decision to end physical disc production for new PlayStation games in 2028 has been controversial, and PlayStation has said it's "hearing the feedback from customers" on the matter. Even the writer of the original report admitted they weren't sure it's a good shift, though they acknowledged Matsuyama makes valid points from a developer's point of view.

The debate isn't going away anytime soon. Do you still buy physical games, or have you fully embraced digital? What do you think about Matsuyama's take — does his argument change your mind at all?