PlayStation founder Ken Kutaragi has questioned the economics of continuing physical game discs, while saying he understands why players associate them with ownership. He suggested resistance to the shift toward digital games may be a “mentality issue”.
Speaking at the Game Republic New Horizons event in Middlesbrough, UK, in October 2026, Kutaragi said: “I understand that physical discs have become a metaphor for ‘owning’ games.”
He compared that attachment with smartphone users’ acceptance of digital content. In his view, people using connected devices feel they will retain their content without needing physical media. He said he understood players’ concerns but did not think continued support for discs was economically reasonable.
Sony Interactive Entertainment announced on July 1, 2026, that physical disc production for new PlayStation games would end starting in January 2028. The company said the change would not affect games already released, or due to release on disc before that date. Under Sony’s plan, new titles will be sold digitally through PlayStation Store and retailers.
Kutaragi’s views on PlayStation’s direction
Kutaragi retired from his executive role at Sony Computer Entertainment in June 2007, after overseeing the first three PlayStation consoles. He stressed that his views were not an official Sony statement.
He suggested PlayStation’s leaders may see the platform as a connected device delivering a wider range of content, rather than solely as a games console. He acknowledged that the shift had “caused some friction with game enthusiasts”, while framing his explanation of Sony’s thinking as a possibility.
Kutaragi also expressed concern about hardware prices, describing machines as “super expensive and that’s not a healthy situation”. He argued that fuller use of AI and cloud computing could remove the need for dedicated consoles.
