Ubisoft co-founder claims PlayStation ending discs will actually help gaming industry

Sony’s decision to phase out physical game discs has sparked plenty of debate across the gaming community. However, not everyone believes the move will hurt the industry, with Ubisoft co-founder Yves Guillemot arguing it could actually help gaming grow.

At the beginning of July, Sony confirmed its plans to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs in 2028, marking one of the biggest shifts toward an all-digital future for console gaming.

The announcement immediately drew criticism from players concerned about losing the ability to buy, sell, and collect physical games, while others started petitions and worried about the future of the industry.

Nevertheless, while many fans see the move as a negative, Ubisoft co-founder Yves Guillemot believes the long-term impact may not be as damaging as some expect. In fact, he believes it might help the industry grow.

Ubisoft co-founder says digital future could help gaming grow

During Ubisoft’s quarterly investors call, Guillemot was asked whether Sony’s decision could create “a demand headwind” due to the loss of a market for PlayStation games outside the PlayStation Store.

Rather than expressing concern, however, Guillemot referred to the PC market as a key example of how an all-digital ecosystem can still thrive.

“What we saw on the PC is that it helped to grow the market,” Guillemot said, going on to add: “There’s also some pressure for the future on the cost of machines, and being able to be only digital will help to have more accessible machines, I would say. There are pluses and minuses, but we think it will not disturb the industry too much.”

Sony

As many know, PC gaming has largely moved away from physical discs, with platforms such as Steam, Epic Games Store, GOG, and more becoming the primary way players buy and download games.

Well, that shift has coincided with significant growth in the PC market, so according to Guillemot, it stands to reason PlayStation will see the same effect.

Of course, whether Sony’s decision ultimately benefits the industry in the same way as it did PC remains to be seen.

While digital distribution has helped fuel growth on PC, the console audience has traditionally embraced physical media far more heavily, meaning the long-term impact of the change will only become clear after the transition begins in 2028.