Ken Kutaragi says backlash to Sony ending discs is a 'mentality issue'

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Ken Kutaragi, often called the father of PlayStation, has defended Sony's plan to stop releasing physical PlayStation games in 2028. Kotaku's Ethan Gach reports on comments Kutaragi made in an interview with VGC. He has been retired from PlayStation for almost two decades but remains one of the most respected voices in gaming

Kutaragi said he understands that discs have become a symbol of owning games. But he pointed out that nobody thinks physical media is needed for a networked device like a smartphone. He described discs as not economically reasonable and suggested the backlash may be a mentality issue

He also said the move towards cloud gaming is becoming clear, especially as component costs rise. He linked part of the change to Sony staff from backgrounds such as Gaikai and streaming companies, who see PlayStation as a content terminal as well as a console. He accepted that this has caused friction with enthusiasts

Kotaku sets his comments against fans' concerns about ownership and control. Many players worry that without discs, they will lose the ability to lend, resell or keep games if digital stores close. We discussed Nintendo's commitment to physical media recently, which makes the contrast between the two companies interesting

Kutaragi is right that technology moves on, but fans' worries about ownership are also reasonable. Digital purchases can disappear when licences expire or stores close. The best outcome would be strong guarantees for digital ownership as discs fade away

Is the disc backlash a mentality issue or a real concern? And would you buy a disc free PS6?

'Father Of PlayStation' Ken Kutaragi Blames A 'Mentality Issue' For The Backlash To Killing Discskotaku.com