“It’s human nature to view change as a risk, but change is every bit an opportunity,” PlayStation boss Jim Ryan told GamesIndustry.biz. He’s referring to stories regarding upheaval at Sony, which has most recently seen the departure of Shawn Layden and role changes for Hermen Hulst and Shuhei Yoshida. According to the executive, it’s all part of positioning the company more effectively ahead of the PlayStation 5.
“I would say that our organisations and the way that we work will, by definition, need to evolve to keep pace with the change in how people play games, how games are distributed, how games are made, and the way games are consumed,” he explained. “I think that process of change is inexorable.”
Ryan continued that this isn’t necessarily a negative thing. “The shift from physical to digital [game purchases], five or six years ago, was viewed with great nervousness and trepidation,” he said. “But, as far as I can tell from those who play games and for us, the impact of that transition has been entirely divine.”
This, of course, is true of life: we worry about change, but often there’s an agreeable conclusion waiting around the corner. PlayStation needs to be nimble in an industry that moves very quickly; it sounds like Ryan is the right person to steer the figurative ship through these times.
[source gamesindustry.biz]
Comments 22
Despite what he says, I still prefer to buy physical media, and I will for as long as I can. I don't want to be reliant on an internet connection all the time.
Physical releases will become the niche market one day.
I think to fully adopt a complete "digital-only" ecosystem in the console space, [console maker] needs to adopt an internet-free way for digital titles to continue to run long after services shut down. DRM-free, if you will.
physical media will always be my preferred option when it comes to gaming!
Physical over Digital any day of the week
Well if they'd stop giving everyone killer PSN sales then maybe people wouldn't be buying digital as much. I think they're the ones responsible for driving this forward, not gamers. People like a good deal, whether it's physical or not (and I have plenty of digital games myself) but if you actually sat down and talked with most gamers I'd bet they'd tell you they prefer to have a physical copy over an incorporeal one.
That’s an interesting controller. Looks like a Tango Ice Blast. Eh, I mix physical with digital. Depends what’s cheaper.
@Paranoimia i used to be that way but frankly my laziness took over and not having to go put disks in the machine is a joy
so i'm largely all digital now
I read the article as "PS Switch when?"
Change?! We don’t much like that word round these ‘ere parts!
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.
I can accept digital as long as they keep putting out physical, I will never accept streaming but can tolerate it as a side option. If playstation ever goes full streaming or puts their games day and date on pc then, I'm done.
We’ll see.
Gotta be careful trying to reinvent the wheel.
i just have one last thing to say
why fix was isn't broken
buying and playing games was perfect as it was, there was no need to change it
the only reason they want to push us to digital and streaming is so they can maximise profit and have full control over all aspects of it
but that's OK, go the streaming route but good luck selling your consoles in stores when the stores can't make any money off game sales
@GamingFan4Lyf
This. I still buy physical where I can but if the platform holders, on console atleast, can guarantee that I can still access my games in the future unrestricted long after support for said platform ends then I'd be more open to the idea of going digital.
Until then I will continue to 'own' my games on plastic.
I like J Ryan.
I also like that some people hate him for superficial reasons haha
@FullbringIchigo
I hate cloud gaming but that's not really what hes saying. Everyone knows what's going on in multiple competition and I'd rather Sony be in the pack than get caught their pants down and lose their influence. Competition have insidious ways of taking over so to speak
You can change your mind but you can't change your underpants... Errr wait..
I don't have problem with digital and cloud gaming as long as physical gaming still available
Movies have long been Digital and physical, there is no reason they both can't live together. Physical sales are a big part of new title sales. Think of the large number of people that are not connected to the online life and information. They buy a game because the walk into a store and see it on the shelf. Many times I can find a game on sale in retail sales long before PSN discounts it.
Black Friday is the day I purchase more physical games than I do the whole rest of the Year.
@JJ2 OH true, very true
@ApostateMage Great song.
I'm just here for the Berry Blue Dualshock.
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