Ken Kutaragi Discusses Transition Away from Physical Discs at Game Republic New Horizons Event
- Ken Kutaragi identifies fan resistance to Sony’s discontinuation of game discs as a “mentality issue.”
- He suggests the shift towards all-digital devices reflects a changing mindset in gaming.
- Kutaragi emphasizes the need for AI and cloud computing to reshape the future of gaming hardware.
Ken Kutaragi, the founder of PlayStation and the mind behind the first three PlayStation consoles, recently addressed concerns regarding Sony’s move to discontinue physical game discs, describing the emotional response as likely stemming from a “mentality issue.” While acknowledging the attachment some fans feel towards physical media, he argued that it is “not economically reasonable” for Sony to maintain production of these discs.
Speaking to Video Games Chronicle at the Game Republic New Horizons event, Kutaragi stated, “I understand that physical discs have become a metaphor for ‘owning’ games… But nobody thinks [physical media] is necessary for a networked device like a smartphone.” He reiterated his understanding of the fan sentiment, while emphasizing that the industry must adapt.
Having retired from PlayStation in June 2007, shortly after the European launch of the PlayStation 3, Kutaragi reflected on his time away from the company, noting that “two generations of consoles have passed” since his departure. Despite no longer holding a CEO position, he believes some shared viewpoints remain with current employees.
Kutaragi speculated that Sony’s direction may be leading towards an all-digital gaming experience. He mentioned that this shift could be contributing to tension with gaming enthusiasts who prefer physical game ownership. “Maybe that’s how those people are thinking,” he remarked.
As the current CEO of Ascent Robotics and owner of Cyber AI Entertainment, Kutaragi also voiced concerns about the rising costs of gaming hardware in the face of semiconductor shortages. He remarked that machines are “super expensive and that’s not a healthy situation,” referencing recent reports that the memory and storage for the anticipated PlayStation 6 may exceed $680.
His recommendation for overcoming these challenges is to leverage AI and cloud computing capabilities, suggesting that with proper implementation, the need for physical consoles could become obsolete. However, he acknowledged that this perspective may not resonate positively with all gamers.
News Courtesy of Eurogamer
