Key information
Following Sony's decision to phase out PlayStation discs starting in 2028, former PlayStation head Shawn Layden voiced criticism during an interview on an episode of The Expansion Pass podcast.
While acknowledging that digital downloads offer convenience, Layden argued that completely eliminating physical discs is a mistake. He noted that the roughly 20% of players who rely on physical media represent the most loyal consumers, including collectors who purchase multiple copies.
Layden emphasized that abandoning physical media raises fundamental concerns about ownership. He questioned what consumers are actually buying if they cannot resell items, noting that purchasing mere access to a digital asset is much less appealing.
He added that consumers naturally imagine worst-case scenarios, comparing the shift to instances where Sony revoked access to previously purchased movies. Layden stated that this policy creates a major blow and reputational damage to the brand, leaving time to tell if the cost savings of eliminating discs will outweigh the generated goodwill.
