PlayStation Founder Ken Kutaragi: Player Frustration Over Physical Disc Discontinuation A “Mentality Issue”

In recent years, Sony announced its intention to phase out physical discs for PlayStation games by 2028, which understandably upset players who prefer the tangible medium. Now, PlayStation's founder, Ken Kutaragi, has shared his thoughts on the matter, suggesting it's a matter of "mentality." Speaking at the Game Republic New Horizons event, Kutaragi contended that disc usage has become a symbol for owning games, stating that this is a mentality issue.

He pointed out that people don't consider digital media necessary on networked devices like smartphones, as they believe their content will remain accessible. However, Kutaragi's comparison of consoles to smartphones is questionable, as they serve different purposes and function as more specialized hardware. He also argued that the current leadership at Sony may be shifting away from traditional game consoles towards network-connected platforms for content delivery, which conflicts with what many dedicated gamers want.

Kutaragi suggested that Sony's approach has caused tensions with gaming enthusiasts, yet he maintained that it isn't economically viable for PlayStation to continue investing in disc production. It's worth noting that Kutaragi left Sony in 2007 and now heads Ascent Robotics and Cyber AI Entertainment. Kutaragi's comments are not official statements from Sony, but they echo his previous views on digital distribution and the merging of technology with networks.

He has also predicted the convergence of physical and digital media due to advancements in AI and cloud computing, potentially eliminating the need for consoles altogether.