Shawn Layden Warns Sony Against Disc-less PS6

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed strong reservations about the possibility of Sony launching the PlayStation 6 as an all-digital, disc-less console. In an interview with Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has managed to thrive with a digital-only strategy in certain markets, Sony's extensive global reach makes such a move riskier.

Layden pointed out that Xbox's digital success is predominantly in English-speaking countries such as the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In contrast, Sony's market spans approximately 170 countries, making it the top platform globally. He argued that going fully disc-less would alienate a significant portion of Sony's user base, particularly in regions where internet connectivity might not be reliable, such as rural Italy. Layden also mentioned other groups that rely on physical media, like traveling athletes and military personnel stationed in remote areas.

He emphasized that Sony must carefully consider which segments of its market would be adversely affected by a transition to a disc-less model. Layden believes Sony is likely conducting research to determine the feasibility of such a shift, and there might be a threshold at which Sony could deem it acceptable to move away from a certain percentage of its market. However, given Sony's vast global presence, he believes a fully disc-less PlayStation 6 would be challenging to implement.

The debate over disc-less consoles has intensified since the PlayStation 4 era, particularly with Xbox's introduction of digital-only consoles. Both Sony and Microsoft have released digital-only versions of the current PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S, yet Sony has maintained the option for users to add a disc drive to its digital consoles, including the high-end PlayStation 5 Pro.

As the industry moves towards digital distribution with services like Xbox Game Pass and Sony's PlayStation Plus Games Catalog, the decline in physical media sales continues. Major publishers are increasingly releasing games that require an internet connection even when purchased on disc, as seen with Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. This trend has led to additional content, once provided on a second disc, now being delivered as downloadable content.