Former PlayStation Boss Speaks Against PC Back Pedaling, Pulling Physical Support

It is no secret that Sony Interactive Entertainment are issuing radical changes to how PlayStation operates for the next year. One of the biggest holes that shot through the sun is the decision to sever production on physical releases by 2028. And while fans are being extremely vocal, it doesn’t appear that it is stepping back on the decision. It was reported that its biggest production operation in DACH territory is integrating new equipment to replace production on disc reading for optical microlenses.

Additionally, the conversation of preservation becomes even more apparent with the recent decision for Studio Canal. It was revealed that over 500 movies & TV shows are being pulled by purchase libraries due to licensing expiring starting this September. Not to mention the PlayStation 3 & PlayStation Vita storefronts officially sunsetting by 2027 as well.

Altogether, there are new extremes that are taking place at PlayStation. Recently, former PlayStation boss Shawn Layden has expressed his opinion on some decisions for the platform. When talking on the recent physical media concerns for PlayStation, Layden disclosed to Eurogamer that the decision was “a fairly dramatic decision.” Adding, “You don’t want to leave those people behind,” concerning fans that utilize & appreciate physical means for backwards compatibility.

I’ve been asked this question every year for the last 20 years. When are you guys going to just give up on the disc drive? My feeling with that was always: well, when I get to a place where I’m comfortable enough to believe that worldwide, broadband throughput is good enough to support that download experience, good enough to reach the majority of customers. Majority does not mean entirety, so there is a point, a tipping point.

This was not the only decision that Layden has criticized as of late. When speaking on the PSI Podcast, Layden also shared disagreement on Sony moving away from supporting its titles on PC. In May, Sony Interactive Entertainment confirmed previous reports that its focus on PC releases will be minimized. Now, only live-service games are the only exception. That was not Layden’s vision for the platform when he was still at PlayStation.

“First of all, the games don’t go on PC for like a year or whatever it is. It’s not day and date. And if they think that a game coming out 18 months after its launch on another platform somehow stopped a sale from happening 18 months ago in the hardware business, I would like to see how they can prove that thesis.

“You can feel that is true [but] I don’t happen to feel that’s true. If someone’s waiting 18 months for something to come on PC, we didn’t lose a sale to them. They weren’t going to buy the hardware anyway.” Layden in the interview did also elaborate on his standing for PC; still sharing interest in unique releases for console.

“I think exclusivity is very important to a platform business. […] Moving into PC or multi-platform releases is really about two things. The PC thing, in my mind anyway at the time, was not to make money, frankly, it was how do I get my intellectual property in front of people who wouldn’t normally see it? How do I get the world of Horizon to be seen by people who aren’t in the PlayStation world? Not necessarily because they’re going to buy a PlayStation.”

What are your thoughts on Layden’s comments for PlayStation’s recent decisions?

Source: Eurogamer, PSI Podcast