PlayStation 6: Why It Won’t Be Fully Discless, According to Former PlayStation Boss

PlayStation 6

Hey everyone! So, there’s been a lot of buzz lately about whether the next PlayStation, the PS6, will ditch disc drives altogether. It’s a big question, right? Well, we’ve got some interesting insights from a pretty reliable source: Shawn Layden, the former CEO of SIE Worldwide Studios. He recently shared his thoughts, and it looks like physical game fans can breathe a sigh of relief. According to Layden, the PS6 is not likely to go completely discless due to several market and logistical reasons. Let’s dive into what he had to say, based on an interview with KiwiTalks.

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The Case Against a Discless PS6

Layden doesn’t think Sony can “get away with it” when it comes to a completely discless console. Sony has a huge global market, unlike Microsoft, and that makes a big difference. Sony’s market is vast, covering around 170 countries, and they have an obligation to make sure they can serve all of that market. Many of these countries don’t have the same reliable internet infrastructure that we might take for granted.

Think about it: a lot of places have slow internet, or sometimes no internet at all. So, for gamers in developing or remote regions, physical game discs are a must-have. To illustrate this, Layden even pointed out the specific example of gamers in rural Italy, questioning whether they would have a good enough internet connection to download and enjoy their games.

And it’s not just about internet access either. There are other groups who rely on physical games. For example, consider athletes who travel a lot. They often bring their PlayStations to hotels to pass the time, and downloading huge games over hotel Wi-Fi is just not practical. Then there’s the military bases around the world where internet connections are often limited or nonexistent. PlayStation consoles are super popular there, but without physical discs, they wouldn’t be able to play. All of these situations mean that physical games are not just a nice-to-have, but really a necessity for many players.

Microsoft’s Success with Discless Consoles

Now, let’s talk about Microsoft. They’ve had more success with discless consoles. They’ve done well in countries like the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand. Interestingly, these are mainly English-speaking countries. These regions have generally better internet infrastructure and are better equipped for an all-digital gaming experience.

But here’s the thing: what works for Xbox might not work for Sony. Sony can’t just adopt the same strategy because their market is so much broader.

Technical Aspects of the PlayStation 6

Okay, let’s switch gears and talk about the tech inside the PS6. This next-gen console will have a semi-custom AMD APU, which is being made by TSMC. We’re talking about a Zen 5 CPU and a next-gen UDNA GPU, which should be really powerful. There’s also talk about adding an X3D cache which could give it a significant performance boost.

What does that mean for you? Well, the PS6 is aiming for 4K gaming at 120FPS and 8K gaming at 60FPS. Plus, the console will use PSSR, which is their AI upscaling technology, to make games look even better. The chip is being made using TSMC’s N3E process node. Oh, and fun fact: Intel actually tried to get the contract for the PS6 chip, but AMD won the bid back in 2022.

The Debate: Physical vs. Digital Games

The debate about physical versus digital games is nothing new, but it’s still a hot topic. One of the big points of concern is that digital games are more like licenses than ownership. You don’t actually own the game; you’re just paying for the right to play it. This is important because, technically, access to these games can be revoked, or servers could be shut down. We all remember when the PlayStation Network was down for weeks and people couldn’t access their digital games. This makes people worry about the long-term accessibility of digital libraries.

This is why a lot of people prefer physical media. They like having the actual disc, especially for collectors. And, of course, there’s always the second-hand market to think about. Plus, if you don’t have a great internet connection, physical media is a must.

Potential Scenarios for the PS6

So, what can we expect from the PS6? Well, it’s highly likely to include a disc drive, even if it is optional. Think about the PlayStation 5 Pro, which is a discless console but can be upgraded with a separate disc drive. This might be the route Sony takes, offering a modular system where you can add the disc drive if you need it.

Sony is probably doing a lot of research right now to see how much of its market it can afford to lose with a completely discless console. There will be a point, a “tipping point” as Layden calls it, where Sony might decide it’s okay to focus only on the part of the market that can support discless gaming. But, given how big their global market is, that’s a tricky calculation to make.

Additional Insights and Expert Tips

Let’s talk a little about the history of gaming media. We’ve gone from cartridges to CDs to Blu-ray, and now we have digital downloads . Digital distribution has been on the rise, especially with platforms like Xbox Game Pass . Managing these digital libraries can be tricky, so it’s a good idea to use external storage solutions to keep everything organized.

When deciding between physical and digital games, think about your needs. Do you have a good internet connection? Are you a collector? Do you like being able to share or resell your games? If you have limited or unreliable internet, you will definitely want to buy physical discs.

Also, if you are dealing with slow internet access, try to schedule your downloads for off-peak hours to get the best speeds. Make sure you also have a reliable internet service provider if you want to have an easy time with digital game downloads. Finally, keep in mind the fan perspectives you see in comments, forums, and social media, where you can find all sorts of useful tips and insights from other gamers.

Conclusion

So, to wrap things up, it looks like the PS6 is unlikely to be completely discless, according to Shawn Layden. Sony’s global reach and the different needs of their customers make it difficult to go fully digital. The debate between physical and digital games is going to continue, but for now, it seems we’ll have both options available to us. It will be interesting to see what Sony decides, and how gamers will respond, but it’s good to know that a future without physical media might be further off than we thought. What do you think? Let me know in the comments!

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