Ken Kutaragi ‘understands’ why PlayStation fans don’t want to give up physical games

Key Points:

• Ken Kutaragi, known as the "Father of PlayStation," expressed understanding of player frustration over Sony ending physical disc production but emphasized the economic impracticality of continuing disc manufacturing in a network-connected era.
• Kutaragi highlighted that the shift to digital ownership is a mentality change, comparing it to smartphones where physical media is unnecessary, and suggested game companies need to help change consumer perceptions around digital content ownership.
• He noted that PlayStation’s leadership, influenced by streaming and network connectivity experts, is evolving the console into a broader content delivery platform, which has caused friction with traditional gaming enthusiasts.
• Kutaragi predicted the possible end of traditional consoles, citing the high cost of hardware and the potential for AI and cloud computing to replace physical gaming machines entirely in the future.
• While no longer with Sony, Kutaragi shared these insights at the Game Republic New Horizons event, emphasizing the industry's ongoing transition from console-based to network-based gaming platforms.