Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator Hideo Kojima has warned of a “frightening” digital future just days after Sony announced it would soon end production for physical PlayStation discs.
Kojima shared his feelings about the shift away from physical media during a conversation at the Il Cinema in Piazza film festival in Rome (according to a translation by Genki). His comments follow the news that production of new PlayStation discs would come to an end in January 2028, and although he doesn’t seem to directly reference Sony by name, it seems pretty clear what’s on his mind.
“Since production is ending in 2028, this is about video games, but I grew up with physical media, so I find it really sad,” Kojima said. “Currently, I’ve been buying up a lot of Blu-rays, such as various movies, and CDs too.”
Those who have followed Kojima’s love for video games, movies, and music shouldn’t be surprised to hear he’s not thrilled with the way things are going. Mere moments after news of Sony’s decision spread across the internet, a message he shared in 2021, warning that individuals may soon have access to data stripped away, resurfaced. He said at the time, “We will not be able to freely access the movies, books, and music that we have loved.”
Kojima took his presence at the film festival to update listeners on his perspective on an all-digital future. He also touched on streaming, and how it will affect not only games, but other media, too.
“The situation is different for games, as they are downloaded to the hard drive, that means the game data remains on your own hardware,” he continued. “However, if things shift to streaming in the future, that won’t be the case anymore. With streaming subscription services, like Netflix or Amazon, there is a server somewhere, and you essentially just have the right to turn the tap, and when you do, the data flows out.
“That’s how movies work on these platforms, right? You don’t download the data, you access it directly through a subscription. And the consequence of that is that you don’t actually possess the data yourself.”
Fans of physical media ownership have had a lot to be upset about in recent weeks. In late June, Rockstar Games announced that the physical version of GTA 6 would come in a box with no disc, with the game itself available only as a download code.
The aftermath of Sony’s decision to end physical disc production for PlayStation games has been especially brutal. Even as major corporations, celebrities, and the average gamer blast the company for its decision, it appears it’s unlikely to U-turn on the move. All of this arrives just as Sony told digital movie fans they would soon lose access to a library of more than 550 films – even if they had already purchased them.
Signs seem to point to a focus on digital gaming as the PS6 and Project Helix consoles loom, and players aren’t looking forward to what the future may hold. Kojima isn’t either.
“There are companies that own these servers and let you ‘turn the tap’ for a monthly fee,” he continued. “However, with nations, politics and various ways of thinking, one naturally has to consider the possibility that if there is a change, the data inside will stop being distributed. And if that happens you won’t be able to watch or play the movies and games you like.
“That is what is frightening. So, what is happening to video games in 2028, might also happen to movies. I’d like everyone to keep that in mind.”
Kojima Productions wrapped up work on Death Stranding 2: On the Beach last year. Next up is his horror project, OD, which we recently learned is safe at Xbox following recent reports of impending studio closures and cancelations. For more, you can read why one IGN writer thinks PlayStation’s physical media-free future is offensive.
Photo by Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images.
Michael Cripe is a freelance writer with IGN. He’s best known for his work at sites like The Pitch, The Escapist, and OnlySP. Be sure to give him a follow on Bluesky (@mikecripe.bsky.social) and Twitter (@MikeCripe).
