- Disgaea creator Sohei Niikawa has criticized PlayStation’s move away from physical games.
- He says Sony may as well become a software-only company if discs are removed entirely.
- More and more industry veterans are now speaking out against PlayStation’s decision.
PlayStation’s plans to scale back physical game releases continue to spark significant backlash. Collectors and longtime fans have been relentless in expressing their concerns that a digital-only strategy would give Sony greater control over pricing and access while weakening permanent game ownership.
Now, a prominent RPG veteran and developer has also spoken out against this decision, joining the likes of Hideo Kojima and Yoko Taro in sharing the sentiment.
Why it matters: Physical media remains a major part of PlayStation’s identity despite the industry’s broader digital shift.
In a recent interview, Disgaea creator Sohei Niikawa shared his thoughts on PlayStation’s decision to close shop on disc-based games.
He believes Sony could effectively operate as a software company if PlayStation abandons physical releases. In that scenario, PlayStation games could theoretically be distributed across other hardware rather than requiring a dedicated Sony console.
The argument is interesting because Disgaea has a long history on PlayStation platforms. The original game launched on PS2, while later entries became closely associated with Sony’s consoles and handheld systems before the franchise expanded further.
Without physical games, Sony doesn’t need a PlayStation console.
Niikawa’s comments also drive home the notion that physical discs are an important component of console gaming in an increasingly digital-only ecosystem.
Unfortunately, recent data suggests that the popularity of physical games is on a speedy decline.
Physical games still have their place in the industry, but their appeal remains mainly limited to the hardcore side of gaming. As such, it comes as no surprise that a developer like Sohei Niikawa finds this move particularly unappealing.
Would a digital-only future make you reconsider buying the next PlayStation console?
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