Ken Kutaragi, the “father of PlayStation,” said he understands why fans do not want to give up games on disc, but considers Sony's decision to drop physical media economically reasonable. He spoke to VGC at an event in the UK, reigniting the debate over what it means to “own” a game.
What he said
Kutaragi oversaw the first three PlayStation consoles and left Sony in 2007. Now 76, he is CEO of Ascent Robotics and Cyber AI Entertainment. In an interview with VGC at the Game Republic New Horizons event in Middlesbrough, he acknowledged that PlayStation's current direction has “caused some friction” with enthusiasts.
According to VGC, he said he understands that “physical discs have become a metaphor for ‘owning’ games.” He compared the situation to smartphones, where nobody expects to need physical media, and said part of the problem is one of mentality. In his view, the industry needs to change how people think about digital ownership. Even so, he does not think it is economically reasonable to keep investing in discs.
PlayStation as a “content terminal”
Kutaragi also said that PlayStation's current leadership may see the brand as a “content terminal” rather than just a game console, which conflicts with what the most dedicated fans expect. He noted that Sony Interactive Entertainment now includes many people from outside the company, including professionals from Gaikai and streaming companies.
Other remarks at the event
In a keynote hosted by The Game Business, he said the prediction he made in the PS2 era, that the console would merge with the network, is now happening. He called rising hardware prices, attributed to a global components shortage, unhealthy, and compared the cost of a high-end PC to that of a car. He also said that if companies fully use AI and cloud computing, “we won't need any console,” adding that this was not an official Sony Computer Entertainment comment.
The context: the end of discs in 2028
The conversation comes after Sony said that, from January 2028, new PlayStation games will be sold digitally only, a topic we covered in our report on the Japan-only PS5 Midnight Black. Discs released before then keep working.
What we still don't know
The remarks are the opinion of a former executive, not a Sony position. According to VGC, the original article includes no response from the company, and Kutaragi no longer takes part in PlayStation decisions. What he makes clear is that the debate over digital ownership, preservation and price is likely to continue even after new discs go away.
For people who buy PlayStation games, the practical message is a familiar one: until 2028 there are still disc releases, and what you buy digitally is a license to use the game, not an object. The discussion around that will likely only heat up.
