Saber's Tim Willits on Physical Games' Demise and $1,000 Consoles

Ever feel like the gaming world is shifting under your feet? With Sony announcing it'll stop making physical PS5 discs by 2028 and console prices skyrocketing, it's hard to keep up. At Gamescom, Saber Interactive's chief creative officer, Tim Willits, shared his thoughts on these changes—and he's got some hot takes.

First up, the death of physical games. Willits told GameSpot he was "surprised how upset people were" about Sony's decision. Personally, he hasn't bought a physical game "in a long time" because digital is just so convenient. And he's not alone—digital sales are climbing everywhere. But here's the twist: Sony still sells millions of discs annually, and Saber makes "a lot of money" from physical games, especially in Europe. So it's not all doom and gloom for physical media just yet.

Still, Willits gets the nostalgia. He recently signed a copy of Doom 3 for a fan, and he admitted, "So for me personally, I'll miss that in the future." That human connection—meeting fans, signing boxes—is something digital can't replicate. But he's also looking forward with a wild idea: an "AI box" where you can "upload all your games." Imagine a sleek device that holds your entire library, no discs needed. Sounds like something out of sci-fi, but hey, maybe that's where we're headed.

Now, about those rising prices. Consoles have never been pricier. Thanks to tariffs and AI-fueled component costs, the PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are now $150+ more than at launch. Nintendo's even hiking Switch 2 prices in September. Willits called it "shocking how expensive" it's become, and he's curious how Sony and Microsoft will handle it with their next consoles. There's even talk of $1,000 consoles, which Ampere Analysis warns could seriously hurt the market. But Sony and Microsoft haven't confirmed anything yet, so we're all in the dark.

So, what's your take? Are you team physical or digital? And would you shell out a grand for a next-gen console? Let us know in the comments!