Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO, Shawn Layden, believes Sony cannot afford to release a completely digital, disc-less PlayStation 6. While acknowledging Xbox's success with this strategy, Layden highlights Sony's significantly larger global market share. Eliminating physical games would alienate a substantial portion of their user base.
Layden points out that Xbox's digital-first approach thrives primarily in English-speaking countries, unlike Sony's widespread global dominance. He questions Sony's ability to ensure reliable internet access for all players, citing examples like rural Italy, where connectivity may be insufficient for digital-only gaming. He also mentions other segments relying on physical media, such as athletes on the road or military personnel on bases. Layden suggests Sony is likely assessing the potential impact on these markets.
The debate surrounding disc-less consoles has intensified since the PlayStation 4 generation, fueled by Xbox's digital-only releases. Both PlayStation and Xbox offer digital-only console versions, but Sony has yet to fully commit to a disc-less model. This is partly due to the availability of external disc drives for their digital consoles, allowing for physical game compatibility. However, the rise of subscription services like Game Pass and PlayStation Plus's Games Catalog raises questions about the future of physical media.
Declining physical media sales and the increasing prevalence of online-only game installations further complicate the issue. Games like Assassin's Creed Valhalla (likely a typo, should be Assassin's Creed Valhalla or a different Ubisoft title) and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor illustrate this trend, requiring internet connectivity even for disc-based versions. The practice of including what was once a second disc as downloadable content further underscores the shift away from physical media.
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