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Hideki Kamiya Isn’t Fussed About the Physical vs. Digital Debate – He Just Wants Games to Be Preserved for Future Generations
Hideki Kamiya, the veteran director behind franchises including Bayonetta, Devil May Cry, Resident Evil 2 and Okami, has said he is unconcerned with the debate over physical versus digital games, focusing instead on the need for titles to be preserved for future players. His comments, made amid controversy over PlayStation's plan to stop producing physical game discs from January 2028, carry weight given his standing in the industry and add a notable voice to wider discussions about how gaming's history should be safeguarded.
Speaking to Video Games Chronicle on 2 September, Kamiya revealed he now buys games entirely digitally himself and views this as the industry's natural direction. He stressed that what matters most is whether rights holders take responsibility for keeping games playable for future generations, regardless of format, noting that many older classics are already unplayable on modern hardware. His remarks come against a backdrop of industry-wide re-releases and remakes of older titles, alongside preservation efforts such as the Video Game History Foundation and the Stop Killing Games movement, the latter having joined a Dutch consumer group's lawsuit against PlayStation. Separately, lawmakers in Mexico have launched an anti-trust suit against PlayStation over its move away from physical discs, accusing the company of anti-competitive practices.
In short
- Kamiya prioritises game preservation over the physical vs digital format debate
- He buys games entirely digitally and sees this as inevitable
- Comes as PlayStation faces backlash and legal action over ending physical discs
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Prioritising long-term playability over format recognises that physical discs can also become unusable as hardware ages, while digital releases can be maintained across newer systems. Rights holders are best placed to preserve games through re-releases, compatibility work and archives, so focusing on their responsibility could help keep more titles accessible to future players.
The case against
Physical copies give players more control over access: they can often be lent, resold or played without depending on a platform’s ongoing support. If the industry moves towards digital-only distribution, games may become harder to preserve independently and players may have fewer options when a publisher or platform withdraws a title, making format an important part of the preservation debate.
Explained simply
Video games can be sold on discs or downloaded, but either format can become difficult to use over time. Discs may no longer work on newer consoles, while downloaded games can depend on online shops and services staying available.
Hideki Kamiya is a Japanese game director known for series including Bayonetta and Devil May Cry. Game preservation is the effort to keep older titles playable and accessible, through re-releases, archives or other means.
The debate involves game makers and publishers, which control many of the rights and decisions affecting access to their titles, as well as players and preservation groups. It matters because games are part of cultural history, and choices about how they are sold and maintained affect whether future players can experience them.