Former PlayStation Boss Shawn Layden Says Sony Can't Get Away With Making PS6 Disc-less

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios CEO Shawn Layden has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of launching the PlayStation 6 as an all-digital, disc-less console. In a conversation with Kiwi Talkz, Layden highlighted that while Xbox has successfully pursued a digital-only strategy, PlayStation's extensive global market share makes such a move risky.

Layden pointed out that Xbox's digital success is primarily concentrated 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 leading platform in many regions. He emphasized the importance of considering the impact on users in areas with limited internet connectivity, such as rural Italy, and those who rely on physical media, like traveling athletes and military personnel.

He questioned the potential damage to Sony's market by going disc-less and suggested that the company is likely researching the tipping point at which it could afford to alienate certain segments of its user base. Layden believes that Sony's vast global presence makes a fully disc-less PlayStation 6 challenging to implement.

The debate over digital-only consoles has intensified since the PlayStation 4 era, particularly following Xbox's introduction of digital-only models. Both Sony and Microsoft have released digital versions of their current consoles, the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S, but Sony has maintained the option for users to upgrade their digital consoles with a separate disc drive, even for high-end models like the $700 PlayStation 5 Pro.

The shift towards digital distribution is further evidenced by the declining sales of physical media and the trend of major publishers releasing games that require an internet connection for installation, even when purchased on disc. Examples include Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Shadows and EA's Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. Additionally, what was once provided on a second disc is now often delivered as downloadable content, signaling a broader industry move away from physical media.