Disgaea creator Sohei Niikawa has argued that if Sony eliminates physical game discs, consoles become redundant, stating that a 'television would be enough'. His comments follow Sony's decision to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs.
Physical games hold value for fans
Speaking to Noisy Pixel at Anime Expo 2026, Niikawa explained that physical games serve as 'memory or a keepsake' that can be signed at conventions and displayed at home. He acknowledged the business rationale but questioned whether Sony executives understand fans' emotional attachment.
'From a purely business perspective, I can understand why the people at Sony would make that decision,' Niikawa said. 'However, the executives who decided it have probably never experienced coming to an event like Anime Expo and having someone approach them with a physical game to ask for an autograph.'
Console relevance questioned
Niikawa suggested that removing physical media removes the need for dedicated hardware. '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?' he added. 'If you're going to get rid of physical games, you may as well go all the way.'
With rising console and game prices, a digital-only future could reduce competition and incentive to buy a console over a PC. While consoles guarantee hassle-free performance, younger players may not prioritise graphical fidelity.
Sony has not announced a PlayStation 6 release date, but it is expected in 2028 following the no-disc announcement.
