Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (SIE) recently announced that it will begin phasing out physical PlayStation discs in 2028, sparking backlash from players concerned about game preservation and ownership. Now, former PlayStation Worldwide Studios chairman Shawn Layden is publicly questioning whether the decision overlooks the brand’s most loyal core audience.
During a recent appearance on "The Expansion Pass" podcast, Layden acknowledged that digital editions make games easier to buy and play.
"Gamers are... yeah, we like digital downloads. People say, ‘Oh, downloading a game is easier than going to the store.’ No. What makes downloading a game convenient is that it’s easier than walking across my living room and putting a disc into the console."
"But I do think that, particularly in gaming, maybe 80% of people download and 20% don’t—or whatever the actual breakdown may be. That 20% is incredibly, incredibly important. They’re largely the most loyal of the loyal, and many of them will even buy two copies of every game: one that never comes out of the shrink-wrap and another to play."
Layden argued that the real issue at the center of the debate is ownership. Once games become entirely digital, are players purchasing something they truly own—or merely obtaining access controlled by a platform?
"It changes the conversation from ‘Do you own a game?’ to ‘Do you simply have access to a digital asset?’ If you can’t sell something, that means you don’t really own it. And if you don’t own it, then what are you buying? If you’re only buying ‘access,’ that honestly doesn’t sound nearly as appealing."
He also noted that when players consider how digital content could disappear because of licensing issues or platform policies, they naturally begin imagining the worst-case scenarios.
"That’s what people tend to do. In their minds, they’ll game out every possible worst-case scenario. And that can seriously damage a brand and take a major bite out of its reputation."
Phasing out physical discs may help Sony cut manufacturing and logistics costs, but for players who value collecting, used-game sales and long-term preservation, the question of whether "buying a game" will still mean "owning a game" could remain a defining controversy for PlayStation.