Shuhei Yoshida, the former PlayStation boss who became the public face of the company’s indie push, says Sony ending physical games in January 2028 is not “such a big issue”. He told GamerBraves he “didn’t know they were planning that”, and he does not understand the fuss.
Why Yoshida says Sony ending physical games is not “such a big issue”
His argument is the one the disc’s defenders have been waiting to hear from someone with his credibility: the physical copy was never the whole game anyway.
“Even with physical disc games, in most cases, developers are constantly updating and adding game data anyway. Anyone who chooses to purchase a physical version will still need to download new patches, DLC, or updates. So, not having a disc, I don’t understand if it’s such a big issue.”
Shuhei Yoshida, former president of Sony Worldwide Studios
The comment lands in the middle of the loudest backlash Sony has faced over the exit. PS5 packaging already warns buyers that physical games end in January 2028, and the company says the plan is going ahead regardless.
The “Don’t Kill the Disc” petition passed 100,000 signatures in four days. Since then, tbreak has covered staff reportedly told to keep quiet and claims that Sony is deploying bots to defend the move.
Yoshida spent 31 years at Sony Interactive Entertainment before leaving in 2025 — he has spoken candidly about the circumstances of his exit — and described himself as “a totally digital consumer”. His view of the disc is not the view of the people signing petitions. He does, however, expect collectors to be heard:
“I know there are collectors of physical games. They have walls full of physical packages, and for them, it would be a shame if physical games were no longer available to collect.”
Shuhei Yoshida
He expects collector’s editions to survive as boxes with a download voucher inside. One part of the games economy dies with the disc, though: the secondhand market.
“For those people who choose to buy or sell games, the lack of discs may become an issue.”
Shuhei Yoshida
Digital prices, he added, “can be anything” publishers choose.
When is Sony ending physical game discs?
Sony plans to end support for physical game discs in January 2028. PS5 packaging has begun carrying a warning to that effect, and the company has confirmed the exit is going ahead despite the backlash.
What did Shuhei Yoshida say about Sony’s disc exit?
He said he didn’t know Sony was planning it, that he is ‘a totally digital consumer’, and that he does not understand why losing the disc is ‘such a big issue’ when physical games still require downloaded patches, DLC and updates. He added that it ‘would be a shame’ if physical games were no longer available to collect.
Who is Shuhei Yoshida?
Former president of Sony Worldwide Studios and, until January 2025, head of PlayStation’s indie developer initiative after 31 years at Sony Interactive Entertainment. He remains one of the most recognisable figures in the games industry.
