Sony’s decision to stop producing PlayStation discs in 2028 has been a lightning rod for discussion across the globe, and Disgaea series creator Sohei Niikawa has weighed in, saying that the company might as well stop making PlayStation hardware as well.
Speaking to Noisy Pixel at Anime Expo 2026, Niikawa explained why he thinks physical editions of games are still so important, as he believes that they still create a connection between fans and developers. Not only that, but those games can become a sentimental keepsake for those who collect them, adding a personal layer of value, the former president of Nippon Ichi Software added.
“They can also bring that physical game to an event like this and ask someone to sign it,” Niikawa said. “Afterward, they can take it home, display it, and decorate their room with it. Physical games are important because they can carry that kind of meaning.”
While Niikawa said he understood the business reason for Sony shifting toward an all-digital future, he also explained that the decision was likely made by executives who “have probably never experienced” what it’s like for a video game fan to approach a person with a physical game at an event and ask for an autograph. “I don’t think they understand the feelings of those fans, and they may never have considered what physical editions mean to the people who value them,” Niikawa said. “If they’re going to go as far as eliminating physical packages, they may as well eliminate the hardware too. A television would be enough. Why would you need the console? If you’re going to get rid of physical games, you may as well go all the way.”
Niikawa is likely referring to cloud gaming, an area that Xbox has made big strides in over the years. One of the big draws of Xbox Game Pass, cloud gaming has expanded to TVs, smartphones, and even VR headsets, while Sony has made it a key part of its PlayStation Portal handheld, as you no longer need to own a PS5 to play games on it. In 2025, the company mentioned that it’s banking on hardware power for its next-gen hardware, saying that the “local execution” of games remains in high demand by its players.
But with the cost of components becoming increasingly unaffordable thanks to AI investments eating up all the available supply, it’s looking highly likely that the PS6 is going to be an expensive purchase.