Here's Why Shawn Layden Thinks Sony 'Can't Get Away' with Making PS6 Digital Only 1
Image: Push Square

There are many question marks hovering over the PS6 right now, not least of which is when it will finally emerge.

While it appears to be a possibility it won't launch for another couple of years, maybe more, it's still worth thinking about what a next-gen PlayStation will offer.

One factor worth considering is whether it'll be available with a disc drive to play physical games, or if it might go all-in on digital.

This question was put to ex-PlayStation executive Shawn Layden in an interview last year with Kiwi Talkz, though this specific clip is just now doing the rounds online.

Layden is asked if he thinks the PS6 will be "completely discless", with the host suggesting Sony "can probably get away with it now", likely referring to to rapidly shrinking market for physical games.

"Well, actually I don't think Sony can get away with it now," Layden argues, and his main point is an interesting one about how PlayStation's global dominance makes it a difficult business decision.

"Xbox has had more success in pursuing that strategy, but Xbox is really most successful in their business in a clutch of countries," he says, listing seven English-speaking countries like the US, Canada, UK, and so on.

"[PlayStation], which is the number one platform in probably 170 countries around the world, has an obligation, or a responsibility, to say 'If we go discless, how much of my market is not able to make that jump?'"

He goes on to describe scenarios in which a wholly digital console wouldn't be viable; rural locations where high-speed internet isn't an option, athletes travelling with their PS5s to play in hotel rooms, and military bases in locations with no online access.

"The ability to go to a discless solution, a key point to that is, 'Which part of your market cannot be served by that? Which part of your market will be damaged by going to a discless market?'" Layden says.

He adds Sony is probably "doing the research" on this very thing, and that there's probably a "tipping point" where, if reached, the company will be confident enough to drop disc support altogether. "But Sony's market globally is so huge, I think it'd be hard for them to go fully discless even with the next generation."

What are your thoughts on this? Would you be disappointed if PS6 can't play discs? Tell us in the comments section below.

[source x.com]