Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC (SIE) continues to face concerns over game ownership after announcing that it will stop producing PlayStation physical discs for new releases beginning in January 2028. Now, Ken Kutaragi, widely known as the "Father of PlayStation," says he understands why players are frustrated — but believes continuing to pour resources into disc production no longer makes economic sense.
Kutaragi, who oversaw the development of the original PlayStation, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3, addressed the issue during an interview with VGC at the Game Republic New Horizons event in the U.K. He explained that physical discs have long represented actual game ownership to players, making the shift toward digital distribution a natural source of backlash.
Kutaragi said he understands that physical discs have become a symbol of owning games and that he sympathizes with that mindset. Pointing to smartphones as an example, he noted that consumers generally do not expect internet-connected devices to rely on physical media because they trust that they will retain access to the content they purchased. While he understands why some players are upset, he does not believe continued disc production is economically reasonable and suggested the dispute may ultimately come down to perceptions of ownership.
According to Kutaragi, many members of the current PlayStation team come from streaming and online service backgrounds. As a result, they may no longer view a console purely as a gaming device, but as a hub capable of delivering a broad range of digital content. He said that perspective was understandable, though it had created friction with dedicated gaming fans.
In fact, Kutaragi predicted as far back as 2006 that digital distribution and online streaming would eventually replace physical discs — and could even eliminate the need for hard drives.
Looking ahead, he also voiced concern that component shortages are driving up hardware prices. If artificial intelligence and cloud computing eventually reach their full potential, he believes dedicated game consoles may no longer be necessary at all. Kutaragi stressed, however, that this was his personal opinion and not an official position from Sony.
via： VGC