Ex-PlayStation Leader Expresses Sadness Over Sony’s Shift Away from Game Discs

PlayStation is set to end the production of physical disc versions of its games starting in 2028. This news has sparked outrage among fans, many of whom are determined to avoid digital purchases. Despite the backlash, PlayStation has yet to respond to these concerns.

Former PlayStation head Shawn Layden, however, is taking a more measured stance. While he’s not angry, he does feel a sense of sadness about the decision. “Strictly as a fan,” he remarked.

In a recent conversation, I touched on various topics with Layden, but I couldn’t resist asking about the disc situation. He described it as a “dramatic” move by Sony and shared his own experience as a collector, noting that his library includes both physical and digital titles. He prefers digital for games like Call of Duty, but for iconic titles such as God of War, he values having the physical box, artwork, and disc.

“There’s probably a lot of financial analysis that went into this decision, which led them to it,” he explained. “I won’t dispute that, as I’m not a finance expert.

“But as a fan, just strictly as a fan, it just makes me kind of sad.”

Layden isn’t alone in his feelings; Hideo Kojima has also voiced his disappointment, and many physical game collectors are lamenting the shift.

On a positive note, Layden will still have the chance to snag a physical copy of God of War Laufey, as Santa Monica Studio has indicated it will launch before 2028.