'If You Can't Own It, What Are You Buying?' – Former PlayStation Boss Questions Sony's Decision to Kill Discs

Last week, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden was interviewed on the The Expansion Pass podcast, where he shared his thoughts on Sony's decision to discontinue PlayStation discs starting in 2028. While Layden acknowledged that digital downloads offer greater convenience, he argued that the decision to eliminate discs is misguided due to the significant portion of gamers who would be negatively affected.

Layden pointed out that a substantial 20% of gamers, who often buy multiple copies of games, would be directly impacted by this move. These individuals typically purchase one unopened copy to play and another to add to their collection. Furthermore, he highlighted the issue of ownership, questioning what gamers are actually purchasing if they can't sell or resell their games.

According to Layden, if you can't sell a game, it means you don't truly own it. He noted that this shift from owning a tangible product to merely having access to a digital asset diminishes the value of the purchase. Layden concluded by connecting Sony's decision to the potential removal of movies' physical access and the possible future impact on gaming.

He warned that such a decision could tarnish Sony's reputation and provoke a significant backlash from customers who value ownership and the ability to trade or resell their games.