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Ubisoft chief says Sony’s decision to kill game discs isn’t going to be a big deal
Ubisoft chief executive Yves Guillemot says Sony’s reported plan to stop producing game discs in 2028 is unlikely to disrupt the games industry significantly. He argues that an all-digital approach could expand the market and make consoles more affordable, though the change matters because it would remove physical ownership and resale options for PlayStation customers.
Speaking on Ubisoft’s quarterly investor call, Guillemot compared the shift to PC gaming’s move away from physical releases and towards digital storefronts. He acknowledged advantages and disadvantages, while saying Ubisoft does not expect major industry disruption; PC Gamer notes, however, that Sony’s tightly controlled console store differs from the more competitive PC market, raising concerns about pricing and consumer choice.
In short
- Ubisoft expects Sony’s disc-free future to have limited industry impact.
- Guillemot says digital-only consoles could be cheaper and broaden access.
- Critics fear lost resale rights and greater store control.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Advocates for an all-digital transition argue it mirrors the successful shift in PC gaming, offering manufacturers cost savings that could result in cheaper hardware and broader market access through more convenient digital distribution. They contend that digital dominance is inevitable and point to expanding internet infrastructure, lower friction for consumers, and reduced environmental impact from eliminating physical production and shipping.
The case against
Critics highlight that Sony's tightly controlled digital store lacks the competitive ecosystem of PC gaming, where multiple storefronts create pricing pressure and genuine consumer choice. They emphasise that eliminating physical ownership removes consumer rights to resale and lending, whilst digital games can disappear if accounts are compromised or services discontinued, and purchasing power concentrates with a single corporation rather than remaining distributed across retailers.
Explained simply
Sony is planning to stop producing physical game discs for PlayStation by 2028, moving towards a fully digital approach where all games would be downloaded. This would be a significant change from the current system where players can buy games as physical discs.
The shift matters because it would eliminate players' ability to own physical copies and resell their games secondhand. It would also concentrate control in Sony's hands, since PlayStation's digital store has far less competition than PC gaming's multiple platforms.
Ubisoft, one of the world's largest video game companies, says this change is unlikely to disrupt the industry significantly. The company's chief executive argued that digital-only sales could expand the market and lower hardware costs, though analysts note that Sony's controlled digital store differs from PC gaming's more competitive marketplace.