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 digital-only consoles, Layden emphasizes Sony's significantly larger global market share. He argues that eliminating physical games would alienate a substantial portion of their user base, particularly in regions with less reliable internet access. Layden cites examples like rural Italy or areas with limited connectivity, such as military bases, where access to physical games remains crucial. He suggests Sony is likely assessing the potential market impact of a disc-less console, acknowledging a tipping point exists where sacrificing a segment of the market might be acceptable. However, given Sony's vast global reach, Layden doubts they could comfortably abandon physical media entirely, even with the next generation.

This debate has been ongoing since the PlayStation 4 era, intensified by Xbox's release of digital-only consoles. Both companies offer digital-only versions of their current consoles (PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S), but Sony has been more hesitant to fully commit to a disc-less model. Even their digital-only consoles offer the option of adding a separate disc drive. However, the rise of subscription services like Xbox Game Pass and PlayStation Plus Games Catalog, coupled with declining physical media sales, fuels speculation about the future of disc-based games. This trend is further exemplified by publishers increasingly releasing games that require internet connectivity for installation, even those distributed on physical discs, blurring the lines between physical and digital distribution. The practice of including previously disc-based content as downloadable updates further underscores this shift.