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PlayStation Creator Ken Kutaragi Supports Sony's Move Away From Physical Discs
Key points
- Ken Kutaragi backs Sony's plan to end physical PS5 disc production by 2028.
- He believes physical discs are not economically reasonable in the current market.
- Kutaragi sees player resistance as a "mentality issue" given widespread online access.
- Sony cited 82% digital game sales for PS4/PS5 in Q2 as justification for the change.
Kutaragi's Stance on Physical Media
Ken Kutaragi, known as the 'Father of the PlayStation' for his leadership in developing the original PlayStation, PS2, and PS3, has publicly supported Sony's decision to discontinue physical PS5 discs. Speaking at the Game Republic New Horizons conference, Kutaragi acknowledged player anger but stated that maintaining physical disc production is not economically viable.
Shifting Consumer Expectations
Kutaragi compared modern consoles to smartphones, noting that widespread internet access has changed consumer expectations. He suggested that users now trust their content will remain accessible digitally, eliminating the need for physical media. He also noted that network features on PS2 and PS3 were not as widely utilized as they are on current consoles.
Evolution of PlayStation's Vision
Kutaragi commented that current PlayStation leadership, with hires from streaming businesses like Gaikai, may view the platform as a 'content terminal' rather than solely a game console. This perspective aligns with his own prediction from 2006 that digital distribution would eventually make discs unnecessary.
Sony's Rationale for the Change
Sony announced in July its plan to stop manufacturing disc-based PlayStation games by January 2028. The company cited a growing preference for digital downloads, which accounted for 82% of PS4 and PS5 full-game sales in the April to June quarter. Physical software contributed less than four percent of Sony's game software revenue during that period.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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Reporting from
Ken Kutaragi, the engineer behind the original PlayStation consoles, supports Sony's decision to cease physical PS5 disc production by 2028. He views the resistance to digital-only as a "mentality issue" and believes physical media is no longer economically reasonable, citing the prevalence of online connectivity similar to smartphones.