Despite strong player opposition, Sony does not seem inclined to reverse its decision to stop releasing PlayStation physical discs by 2028. But things may not be set in stone—at least, that's what I choose to believe after reading the latest statements from Nippon Ichi Software president Kenzo Saruhashi. His words offer a glimmer of hope: Sony's decision may not be final.
In an interview with Kotaku, Kenzo Saruhashi said, "So far, in our communications with Sony, we've sensed that they are listening to a lot of player feedback. So while discontinuing physical discs might be the ultimate direction, future discussions could still lead to changes. We'll have to wait and see how it all plays out."
Kenzo Saruhashi made these remarks earlier this month at PAX West, with reports emerging recently amid other rumors about Sony's disc plans. According to gaming media outlet Eurogamer, the YouTube channel "Moore's Law Is Dead" recently revealed that Sony is consulting developers on whether to discontinue physical discs. This news has not been confirmed, but combined with Saruhashi's statements, it suggests that Sony may indeed be reconsidering the fate of physical discs.
Nippon Ichi Software (NIS) is renowned for its tactical RPG series Disgaea and other niche gems, boasting a large loyal fanbase among core JRPG players. Its subsidiary, Nippon Ichi Software America (NISA), handles global publishing for several popular JRPGs, including hits like the Ys and Trails series. NISA frequently releases deluxe collector's editions of these games, and without physical copies of the base game, sales of such merchandise bundles would likely take a significant hit.
Kenzo Saruhashi stated, "From our perspective, a significant portion of our business model, particularly NISA's operations, revolves around physical limited editions. This is a core component of our business, and we will continue to release physical versions of games to deliver the high-quality products players expect."
Abandoning physical games offers significant benefits for Sony's business. Sony no longer needs to bear the production costs of discs or share profits with retailers. It can also collaborate with third-party publishers to control game pricing on the PlayStation Store. Additionally, since Sony has never profited from used game sales, eliminating physical versions means it no longer needs to envy that slice of the pie.
Reports indicate that physical disc sales still account for a significant portion of revenue for Sony's major first-party titles. However, it seems Sony believes that maintaining control over the market is more valuable than the losses incurred from alienating players who still insist on buying physical games.
But that's not all. Sony's decision to discontinue physical discs is almost certainly paving the way for an all-digital PS6—and with the next-generation console potentially priced as high as $1000, which would naturally limit its user base, Sony undoubtedly wants to maximize profit margins. However, if longtime players continue to collectively boycott PlayStation's decision to cancel physical media in the coming years, convincing them to spend big on a new console will only become more difficult. Personally, as a player who has prioritized PlayStation for the past decade, this decision has already started making me consider leaving the platform.