The video game industry is increasingly focused on digital distribution, with Xbox leading the charge by selling consoles without disc drives and normalizing the subscription-based Game Pass model. The arrival of the PS5 Pro without a disc drive, coupled with declining physical game sales, has fueled speculation that the PS6 will follow suit. However, a former PlayStation executive believes this approach may not be viable for Sony.
Shawn Layden, who served as CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment until 2019, recently discussed the challenges of an all-digital PlayStation console during a 2025 interview on the Kiwi Talkz podcast. He argues that Sony’s global market differs significantly from Xbox’s, making a complete transition to digital distribution problematic. The core of Layden’s argument centers on geography and internet infrastructure.
Geographical Disparities in Digital Readiness
“I don’t think Sony can get away with it,” Layden stated. “Xbox has had more success pursuing that strategy, but Xbox is really more successful in its business in a group of countries: the U.S., Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa. Coincidentally, all English-speaking.” This observation highlights Xbox’s strength in markets with robust internet access and a higher adoption rate of digital services.
PlayStation, operates in over 65 countries, many of which lack the necessary internet infrastructure to support a fully digital console experience. “If we’re going digital, how much of my market can’t make that jump?” Layden questioned (via Push Square). He believes Sony has a responsibility to consider this before making a decision that could alienate a significant portion of its customer base.
Xbox’s Digital Strategy and Sony’s Global Reach
Layden acknowledges that Microsoft’s digital strategy makes sense given its player base is concentrated in countries with excellent digital infrastructure. However, Sony’s broader global presence, particularly in emerging markets, requires a different approach to avoid losing market share. Circana data supports this, showing that in the United States, PS5 models with disc drives continue to outsell the digital-only version.
Layden doesn’t rule out a hybrid approach, which he considers the most realistic scenario. Sony could launch the PS6 in two formats, as it did with the PS5, allowing players to choose and maintaining a physical option for those who need or prefer it. However, he cautions that there will be a tipping point where abandoning physical media altogether becomes feasible, even if it means accepting losses: “Okay, fine, we can walk away from that part of the market.”
Potential Delays and Future Outlook
The timing of the PS6’s release is also uncertain, with reports suggesting a potential delay until 2028 or 2029 due to a memory RAM crisis. “Sony’s market is so large globally that I think it would be difficult for them to go completely to a disc-less market, even with the next generation,” Layden added. His opinion is echoed by industry analyst Mat Piscatella, executive director of Circana, who anticipates PlayStation will continue selling physical games for “another generation,” even as Nintendo could sustain physical sales for “another two” before fully transitioning to digital. Piscatella also suggests Xbox is likely to embrace a fully digital future with its next console, potentially a hybrid device between a console and a PC.
The trend towards digital sales is undeniable. In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, 83% of PlayStation game sales were digital, up from an average of 76% for all of fiscal year 2024, according to Icon-Era. This trend is progressive, with digital sales accounting for 70% in Q2 2024, rising to 74% in Q3 and 80% in Q4. In Europe, 131.6 million games were sold digitally in 2024 (a 15% increase), compared to 56.5 million physical copies (a 22% decrease), as reported by VGChartz. In the United States, digital sales accounted for 78% of PS5 sales between January and August 2024, while Xbox Series X|S reached 91%, according to Circana.
While physical media isn’t dead, We see declining and at varying rates across different markets. This reality underscores why Sony cannot yet make the leap to an exclusively digital console, at least not for the foreseeable future.
What to Watch Next
The future of physical media remains uncertain, but Sony’s global reach and the varying levels of internet infrastructure worldwide suggest a hybrid approach for the PS6 is the most likely outcome. The potential delay of the PS6, coupled with the evolving digital landscape, will undoubtedly shape the next generation of console gaming. The coming years will reveal whether Sony can navigate these challenges and maintain its position as a leading player in the industry.
What are your thoughts on the future of physical game media? Share your opinions in the comments below.
