'Maybe It's a Mentality Issue' — 'Father of PlayStation' Ken Kutaragi Responds to Killing Discs Backlash
Ken Kutaragi said the move is economically reasonable as Sony shifts new PlayStation games to digital-only releases and faces backlash from players.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment will discontinue physical game disc production for new releases starting January 2028, Sid Shuman, Senior Director, Sony Interactive Entertainment Content Communications, announced on PlayStation Blog.
- Ken Kutaragi, who ran Sony's PlayStation business through its first three console generations, told VGC the shift is economically reasonable given that network connectivity is now widespread, unlike in the PS2 and PS3 era.
- Sony Interactive Entertainment has hired staff from Gaikai and streaming companies, viewing the console as a 'content terminal' rather than just gaming hardware, though Kutaragi acknowledged this strategic shift has caused friction with traditional enthusiasts.
- Part of the consumer backlash centers on ownership rights concerns, as an all-digital future allows Sony control over purchased copies; one congressman is proposing legislation to regulate digital game sales and protect player ownership.
- Kutaragi believes the industry is shifting toward cloud gaming as component costs rise, suggesting Sony may eventually phase out hardware consoles entirely to combat manufacturing expenses in the coming years.
16 Articles
16 Articles
'Maybe It's a Mentality Issue' — 'Father of PlayStation' Ken Kutaragi Responds to Killing Discs Backlash
Ken Kutaragi, known as "The Father of PlayStation," has backed Sony's controversial decision to scrap discs on PS5. Kutaragi, who ran Sony's gaming business through its first three console generations, told VGC that while he understands the backlash, it isn't “economically reasonable.”
PlayStation Creator Ken Kutaragi Believes Discs No Longer Make Sense, But Understands Players’ Anger
The future of physical video games continues to generate debate, especially after Sony’s plans to abandon disc production in 2028 were revealed. Now, Ken Kutaragi, widely considered considered the father of PlayStation, has given his opinion on this transition to a completely digital market, and while he understands the concerns of gamers, he believes that …
Creator of PlayStation, Ken Kutaragi defends the abandonment of records in games and says that the rejection of fans is a cultural resistance
The PlayStation's father, Ken Kutaragi, defended Sony's position to abandon the games in physical media in an interview with the VGC portal published on Friday (16). Despite understanding the negative reaction of fans, Kutaragi stressed that maintaining the physical media is not "economically reasonable". For the creator of PlayStation, the resistance of the players to the end of the physical media is a matter of change of mindset. I understand …
PlayStation has announced that it will stop producing games in physical support from 2028. In a world of digital products, will consumer rights be respected?
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