While Kutaragi understands the pushback, he stated that physical discs aren't “economically reasonable”.
Ken Kutaragi, the co-creator of PlayStation and two of its successors, has weighed in on the physical disc debate in an interview with Video Games Chronicle, expressing support for Sony’s move to discontinue physical disc production and describing the backlash as a “mentality issue”.
Ken Kutaragi believes PlayStation is growing to be a content terminal
According to the ‘Father of PlayStation’, modern network connectivity means that more people are connected than ever, allowing PlayStation to potentially leverage cloud technology to become a content terminal rather than simply a games console.
“I’m not the CEO at PlayStation any more, but we still have some common [viewpoints]. Right now, Sony Interactive Entertainment has many people who have come from outside, like from Gaikai or streaming companies,” Kutaragi said.
“So it’s understandable that by utilising network connectivity [they may see] PlayStation as not just a games console, but also a content terminal. Maybe that’s how those people are thinking. But this has caused some friction with game enthusiasts.”
Ken Kutaragi calls physical disc backlash a “mentality issue”
The “friction” is a significant backlash that followed Sony’s announcement that it would discontinue physical disc production for new PlayStation games from January 2028. The uproar has fuelled calls for boycotts, with fans demanding that Sony reconsider its decision and continue offering physical releases. It even sparked the Cyberleeks Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 leak campaign in the past few months, which demanded a physical disc release for the Rockstar blockbuster.
In response to the backlash, Kutaragi said he understood that physical discs had become a metaphor for “owning” games, but argued that this attachment ultimately stemmed from a “mentality issue”. He also questioned the economic viability of continuing physical disc production.
“I understand that physical discs have become a metaphor for ‘owning’ games. I really understand that mentality… But nobody thinks [physical media] is necessary for a networked device like a smartphone, for example, because people feel that they will keep their content. So it’s a mentality,” Kutaragi stated. “I really understand [why some people are upset], but I don’t think it’s economically reasonable. Maybe it’s a mentality issue.”
Despite the considerable backlash from the gaming community, Sony is reportedly “cautiously moving forward” with its plans to end physical disc production for new PlayStation releases, despite the “strong opinions” surrounding the decision.
Meanwhile, several major games have begun moving away from traditional physical releases. Upcoming titles such as Grand Theft Auto VI and God of War Laufey collector’s editions have explored game-less Collector's Box packages, highlighting the industry's gradual shift towards digital distribution.
