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 disc-less PlayStation 6. While acknowledging Xbox's success with this strategy, Layden emphasizes Sony's significantly larger global market share. He argues that eliminating physical and offline games would alienate a substantial portion of their player base.

Layden points out that Xbox's digital-first approach has thrived primarily in English-speaking countries, unlike Sony's widespread global dominance. He questions the feasibility of a disc-less PlayStation, considering the potential impact on players in regions with unreliable internet access, citing examples like rural Italy. He also highlights the reliance on physical games among specific groups like traveling athletes and military personnel. Layden suggests Sony is likely conducting research to determine the acceptable level of market share loss before committing to a disc-less model. He concludes that even with the next generation, Sony's massive global market makes a fully disc-less console a difficult proposition.

The debate surrounding disc-less consoles has intensified since the PlayStation 4 generation, fueled by Xbox's release of digital-only consoles. Both PlayStation and Xbox offer digital-only console options (including the PlayStation 5 Digital Edition), yet Sony has resisted a complete shift away from physical media. This is notable, as even Sony's digital consoles remain upgradeable with external disc drives. However, with the rise of subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Games Catalog, the future of disc-based games remains uncertain.

The declining sales of physical media, coupled with the increasing prevalence of games requiring online access even on disc, further complicates the issue. Games like Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Valhalla (correction from Shadows) and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor necessitate internet connectivity for installation, effectively rendering the disc a download facilitator. This trend, where a second disc (previously used for installation) is now replaced by downloadable content, underscores the evolving landscape of game distribution.