"Ex-PlayStation CEO Shawn Layden: Sony Can't Ditch Discs for PS6"

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed that Sony cannot afford to launch the PlayStation 6 as an exclusively digital, disc-less console. In a discussion with Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has successfully implemented this strategy, PlayStation's extensive global market share means that going fully digital would alienate too many consumers who rely on physical and offline gaming.

"I don't think Sony can get away with it now," Layden stated. He pointed out that Xbox's success with a digital-only approach is primarily concentrated in English-speaking countries like the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In contrast, Sony's market spans approximately 170 countries, making the transition to a fully disc-less model challenging. Layden emphasized Sony's responsibility to consider the impact on its diverse user base, questioning whether users in areas like rural Italy could access reliable internet connections necessary for digital gaming.

Layden also mentioned specific demographics that rely on physical media, such as traveling athletes and military personnel. He suggested that Sony is likely conducting research to determine the feasibility of moving away from these groups. "Which part of your market will be damaged by going to a disc-less market?" Layden queried, indicating that Sony would need to reach a tipping point where it could justify leaving certain market segments behind.

The debate over digital-only consoles has been ongoing since the PlayStation 4 era, intensifying with Xbox's introduction of digital-only models. Both Sony and Microsoft have released digital versions of their current consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, but Sony has maintained the option for users to upgrade their digital consoles with a separate disc drive, even for high-end models like the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro.

As digital services like Xbox Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Catalog gain popularity, the industry is witnessing a decline in physical media sales. Major publishers are increasingly releasing games that require an internet connection for installation, even when purchased on disc. Examples include Ubisoft's Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. This shift has led to additional content, once provided on a second disc, being offered as downloadable content instead.