Shawn Layden joined Sony in 1987 and subsequently held leadership roles within Sony's rapidly growing game development studios, eventually becoming Chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios before retiring in 2019. He understands how hard it was to build the PlayStation brand, so his views on the company's decision to stop producing physical discs carry more weight than those of most people.
In an interview on The Expansion Pass podcast, Layden stated that he understands the convenience of digital games. However, if we roughly estimate that 80% of players choose to download games while 20% purchase physical copies, Layden believes that "this 20% is crucial." They are the "core of the core" players, who may even purchase multiple versions of the same game for collection purposes.
For this reason, Layden explicitly stated, "I do not agree with this decision." However, he also clarified that he is not privy to PlayStation's internal financial statements and does not know the specific financial situation behind Sony's decision-making process.
"But at the same time—and I think this is the more concerning aspect—it shifts the core of the discussion from 'Do you own this game?' to 'Do you have access rights to this digital asset?'" Layden said.
"If you can't resell something, it means you don't truly own it. If you don't own it, what exactly are you buying? Honestly, if you're just buying access, it doesn't sound very appealing. And people always subconsciously imagine the worst-case scenario. This would have a huge impact on the brand, damaging its reputation. I mean, although I'm not clear on the financial data, the blow to the brand is significant, and I hope they've weighed the pros and cons."
I am myself a player passionate about collecting physical games, and the issue of game ownership has been my biggest concern regarding PlayStation's upcoming all-digital strategy. Market experts point out that physical disc sales for many of Sony's major titles remain highly profitable, but the company clearly values market control more than the needs of the physical game audience.
Layden has previously questioned PlayStation's decision to eliminate physical discs, pointing out that "the market has proven players will continue to buy physical discs," and stating that this move could "seriously impact" the future physical game strategies of Xbox and Nintendo. In any case, if the next-generation console only offers a minor performance upgrade while also removing physical discs, Sony will likely struggle to sell the PS6 for $1,000.