PlayStation Creator Backs Sony's Disc Exit: 'It's a Mentality Issue'

Ever feel like your game collection is more than just plastic cases on a shelf? For a lot of PlayStation fans, those discs mean ownership—and Sony's plan to stop making them by 2028 has sparked a full-blown meltdown. Now, the man who helped create the original PlayStation is weighing in, and he's not exactly on your side.

Ken Kutaragi, the architect behind Sony's iconic console, told VGC at the Game Republic New Horizons event that he gets why players are upset. "I understand that physical discs have become a metaphor for 'owning' games. I really understand that mentality," he said. But he also thinks that mindset doesn't hold up in a connected world. "Nobody thinks [physical media] is necessary for a networked device like a smartphone, for example, because people feel that they will keep their content. So it's a mentality."

In other words, Kutaragi sees the disc debate as more emotional than practical. He admitted he understands the frustration but added, "I don't think it's economically reasonable. Maybe it's a mentality issue." That's a pretty blunt way to describe a community still reeling from the idea of an all-digital future.

So why is Sony pushing this? The company—like every hardware maker—is under huge pressure to keep prices down. The economy is squeezed by AI data centers and US tariffs, making component shortages and hardware costs a real headache. Going disc-free could help cut expenses, but for many PlayStation users, physical discs are non-negotiable. That leaves Sony in a tough spot heading into the next console generation.

Kutaragi left Sony back in 2007, so he's not speaking from inside knowledge. But he has a theory about how the company thinks now. "Right now, Sony Interactive Entertainment has many people who have come from outside, like from Gaikai or streaming companies," he explained. "So it's understandable that by utilizing network connectivity [they may see] PlayStation as not just a game console, but also a content terminal. Maybe that's how those people are thinking. But this has caused some friction with game enthusiasts."

"Some friction" might be the understatement of the year. The backlash has been loud, and fans are demanding answers about how digital games will be handled—entitlements, ownership, and all. So far, Sony hasn't reversed course or offered any new assurances. Some experts think the conversation inside Sony might be evolving, but nothing official has changed.

Meanwhile, there's growing talk that fans won't "pull out $1,000" for a PS6 and Project Helix if all they get are marginal improvements, according to a former PlayStation boss. That's a warning sign for Sony as it tries to sell a disc-less future without losing its most loyal players.

So where do you stand? Are you ready to ditch discs forever, or does owning a physical copy still matter to you? Let us know in the comments.