Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed concerns about Sony launching the PlayStation 6 as an all-digital, disc-less console. In a discussion with Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has seen success with this approach, Sony's extensive global market share makes it risky to exclude physical and offline gaming options.
"I don't think Sony can get away with it now," Layden stated. He pointed out that Xbox's digital strategy has primarily been successful in English-speaking countries such as the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In contrast, Sony's dominance spans approximately 170 countries worldwide, suggesting a significant responsibility to cater to a diverse user base.
Layden emphasized Sony's obligation to consider the impact on users in areas with limited internet access, such as rural Italy. He also mentioned other demographics like traveling athletes and military personnel who rely on physical media for gaming. Layden believes Sony is likely researching the potential impact of going disc-less, questioning how much of their market they can afford to alienate.
"Which part of your market will be damaged by going to a disc-less market?" Layden posed. He suggested that Sony is investigating the tipping point at which they might consider abandoning certain market segments, but given the company's vast global presence, fully transitioning to a disc-less console in the next generation seems challenging.
The debate over digital-only consoles has been ongoing since the PlayStation 4 era, intensifying with the introduction of digital-only versions of the current PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. Although both companies have released digital-only models, Sony has maintained the option for users to upgrade their consoles with a separate disc drive, even on high-end models like the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro.
With Xbox's success with Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Catalog, the industry is moving towards digital distribution. However, as physical media sales decline and major publishers release games that require an internet connection for installation, such as Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, the role of physical discs continues to diminish. What used to be supplementary content on a second disc is now often delivered as downloadable content.
