Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Says Sony Can't Get Away With Making PS6 Disc-less

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed doubts about the feasibility of launching the PlayStation 6 as a fully digital, disc-less console. In a conversation with Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has successfully pursued a digital-only strategy, PlayStation's extensive global market share makes a similar move risky. He noted that Xbox's digital success is primarily in English-speaking countries, whereas Sony's market spans around 170 countries worldwide.

Layden emphasized that Sony has a responsibility to consider the impact on its vast user base, particularly those in regions where internet connectivity might be unreliable, such as rural areas of Italy. He also mentioned specific groups like traveling athletes and military personnel who often rely on physical and offline gaming. Layden suggested that Sony is likely researching the potential effects of going disc-less, questioning how much of the market they might alienate in the process.

The debate over digital-only consoles has intensified since the PlayStation 4 era, with the introduction of digital-only versions of both the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S. However, Sony has maintained the option for users to upgrade their digital consoles, like the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro, with a separate disc drive. This flexibility is crucial as digital services like Xbox Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Catalog grow in popularity, yet the decline in physical media sales continues.

Major publishers are increasingly releasing games that require an internet connection, even for disc versions. For example, Ubisoft's Japan-set Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor both need online access to install. This trend is shifting away from the traditional model of including multiple discs for installation and gameplay, with additional content now often provided as downloadable content.