By Dexerto | Created at 2026-10-06 23:54:46 | Updated at 2026-10-07 02:08:47
11 hours ago
Former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has criticized the move away from physical games, warning that an all-digital future raises questions about whether players actually own the games they buy.
Physical releases have become an increasingly contentious issue as the gaming industry shifts toward digital distribution, with some players pushing back against consoles and games that offer no disc option.
Layden, who previously served as chairman of PlayStation Worldwide Studios and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, believes companies risk alienating some of their most dedicated customers by leaving physical media behind.
Speaking on The Expansion Pass podcast, Layden acknowledged the convenience of digital games but argued that physical releases remain important to a significant part of the gaming community.
Shawn Layden questions Sony’s physical games decision
He first clarified that he didn’t have insight into the drivers behind Sony’s decision to end physical disc releases, but did say it was likely a “heavily spreadsheeted decision” based on costs and profits.
“Downloading a game is easier than going across my living room to put a disc in the machine,” he began. “I just press a button on my controller and I don’t have to move.”
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However, Layden suggested that even if physical buyers represent a minority of the overall market, they are an especially valuable group.
“Maybe 80% of the people download and 20% don’t, or whatever that breakdown is going to be,” he said. “But that’s a super important 20%.
“I mean, that is largely the most faithful of the faithful. That is many times the people who buy two copies of every game, right? One never gets out of the shrink wrap, right? And you play the other one.”
Layden compared physical game collectors to comic book fans and argued that collecting has long been a fundamental part of gaming.
“We are an inquisitive, collecting sort of people and we like to show off our stuff,” he said.
For that reason, Layden said he disagrees with decisions to move away from discs, although he acknowledged he doesn’t have access to the financial reasoning behind them.
His bigger concern, however, is what the disappearance of physical media could mean for game ownership.
“I think this is probably the more insidious aspect to it, is that it changes the conversation from do you own a game or do you have access to a digital asset, right?” Layden said.
“If you can’t sell a thing, that means you don’t own a thing. And if you don’t own it, then what are you buying?
“If you’re buying access, that doesn’t quite sound as sexy, to be honest.”
Layden argued that the issue could ultimately hurt the reputation of companies moving away from physical releases, particularly as players consider what could happen to digital purchases in the future.
“That’s a whole lot of brand hit and reputation bite,” he said. “I don’t have any visibility on the financials around it, but that’s a significant brand hit and I hope it made sense to them.”
Layden’s comments come amid continued debate over the future of physical games, with some players adopting a “no disc, no buy” stance as publishers and platform holders increasingly prioritize digital distribution.
