Shawn Layden Reacts To Sony’s Plans To Stop Production Of Physical Game Discs: ‘I Don’t Necessarily Agree With It But I Don’t Work In the Business Any More’

Former Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) Chairman Shawn Layden has reacted to the company’s decision to shelve production of game discs for PlayStation in January 2028, and he has mixed views on the subject.

Speaking with Eurogamer, Layden, who was a pivotal figure in the PS4 era before retiring not long into the PS5 cycle, admitted he didn’t see Sony’s move coming, but he’s obviously not involved in that industry anymore. He also reveals he was asked many times over the years about when the format holder would drop a disc drive support.

I had no idea it was going to happen. I don’t necessarily agree with it but I don’t work in the business any more. Maybe it’s just too prohibitively expensive to stamp out discs. If you look at any decision to discontinue a product or a feature or model or what have you, largely it’s a straight spreadsheet [decision].

‘When are you guys going to just give up on the disc drive?’ My feeling with that was always: well, when I get to a place where I’m comfortable enough to believe that worldwide, broadband throughput is good enough to support that download experience, good enough to reach the majority of customers.

Layden recently spoke about Sony’s reported plans to scale back releasing PlayStation games on PC during a chat with the PSI podcast, saying it doesn’t make much sense. As for Sony’s push into digital-only territory, the decision has been met with a lot of criticism online and the company has since gone quiet on its social media channels.

Furthermore, analyst firm has stated that Sony’s plans to cease disc production means “almost certain guarantees” that the as-yet unannounced PS6 won’t launch until 2028.

[Source – Eurogamer]