Why Sony’s All-Digital Future Leaves a Former PlayStation Exec Feeling Mixed

The video game industry is staring down a major turning point, and not everyone is thrilled about it—even those who used to run the show.

With Sony preparing to completely phase out physical disc manufacturing for PlayStation games by 2028, the gaming community has been vocal about its frustration. While current PlayStation executives have largely stayed quiet regarding the massive pushback, a prominent figure from the brand’s past has weighed in with a more measured, yet slightly mournful, perspective.

Shawn Layden, the former boss of PlayStation, recently shared his thoughts on Sony’s upcoming digital shift. While he understands the corporate reasoning behind the move, he admits that losing physical media strikes a personal chord.

The Corporate Reality vs. Fan Nostalgia

Having spent years steering the PlayStation ship, Layden knows firsthand that massive structural changes like this are never impulsive.

“I think there’s probably a whole lot of financial analysis that went behind this decision,” Layden noted, clarifying that he doesn’t fault the company’s business logic.

However, looking at the situation strictly as a gaming enthusiast, his sentiment shifts. Layden mentioned that while he happily buys digital versions of multiplayer titles like Call of Duty, he prefers owning the physical box, artwork, and disc for cinematic, single-player experiences like God of War.

“As a fan, just strictly as a fan, it just makes me kind of sad,” he admitted.

A Growing Shift in the Gaming Industry

Layden isn’t the only industry heavyweight mourning the decline of physical media. Legendary game director Hideo Kojima, along with an incredibly dedicated community of physical collectors, has expressed similar grief over the industry’s aggressive push toward an all-digital landscape.

The backlash from the community has been intense. Fans have attempted boycotts and even threatened to cancel their PlayStation Plus subscriptions to protest the 2028 deadline. Despite the uproar, regulatory bodies like the European Union have indicated they cannot legally force console makers to stick with physical discs, leaving consumers with very little leverage.

One Last Hurrah for Physical Collectors

For fans who share Layden’s sentiment, there is a small silver lining on the horizon. Because Sony’s disc production isn’t scheduled to end until 2028, upcoming heavy hitters will still get a physical release. Santa Monica Studio has already reassured players that God of War Laufey—heavily rumored for a 2027 launch—will indeed ship on a physical disc, giving collectors at least one more major box to add to their shelves before the era of PlayStation discs comes to an end.