Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot says Sony’s move toward ending physical game production is unlikely to shake up the gaming industry in a major way. Instead, he believes the shift to digital-only gaming could help make future consoles cheaper and more accessible for players.
Speaking during Ubisoft’s first-quarter fiscal 2027 earnings call, Guillemot discussed Sony’s plan to stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games starting in January 2028. Existing physical games and second-hand copies are expected to remain available, but new releases would move fully into the digital space.
Guillemot compared the situation to the PC gaming market, where digital storefronts have largely replaced boxed game releases. According to him, the transition on PC helped expand the market rather than damage it.
“What we saw on the PC is that it helped to grow the market,” Guillemot said. He added that rising hardware costs could make digital-only consoles more attractive, since removing disc drives may help manufacturers reduce prices. “Being able to be only digital will help to have a more accessible machine,” he explained.
The gaming industry has already been moving steadily toward digital purchases. Downloadable games now make up a major share of console software sales, and many players already buy new releases directly through online stores. For publishers, digital distribution can simplify logistics, reduce production costs, and provide a more direct sales channel.
However, the shift also comes with clear drawbacks for players. Without physical discs, gamers would lose the ability to buy used games, trade in old titles, borrow from friends, or take advantage of certain retail discounts. Physical game preservation would also become more difficult over time.
Another concern is storage. If future consoles become fully digital, players may need larger internal drives or more external storage to manage growing game file sizes. Modern blockbuster games can take up a significant amount of space, and an all-digital library could quickly fill a console’s storage.
There is also a key difference between digital console gaming and digital PC gaming. On PC, players often have access to multiple competing storefronts, which can lead to frequent discounts and price competition. On consoles, digital purchases are usually tied to one platform-controlled store, giving players fewer options when searching for the best deal.
Despite these concerns, Guillemot believes the overall impact on game demand will be limited. His comments suggest Ubisoft does not expect Sony’s digital-only strategy to disrupt the broader console market in a dramatic way.
The move away from physical media marks another major step in the evolution of gaming. While digital-only consoles could lower hardware costs and make buying games more convenient, they may also reduce consumer choice and reshape how players own, share, and preserve their games.
