Since the PS5 Pro was released without a disk drive, Sony fans are a bit weary on whether that would be the case with their next-gen console. Thankfully, former Sony CEO claims that PlayStation 6 will not be diskless, and explains why.
When Sony’s premium console was revealed, in November 2024, fans noticed that it does not have a built-in disk drive, requiring you to purchase an external one. This caused a bit of trouble for everyone, but the point is that fans started questioning whether this heralds the end of physical games and the transition to digital-only, or not. Sony’s upcoming console, PS6, is still in the works, but the question arose: will PS6 be diskless as well?
Shawn Layden, Former Sony CEO, Claims that PlayStation 6 Will Not Be Diskless
In a recent interview, Reece “Kiwi Talks” Reilly talked with Shawn Layden. Mr. Layden is currently a strategic advisor for Tencent and is a former Chairman of SIE Worldwide Studios, President and CEO of Sony Interactive Entertainment America, and executive vice president and COO of Sony Network Entertainment International.
When they came to the topic of the PS6, “Kiwi Talks” stated the fact that the PS5 Pro is diskless and asked if the PS6 would be diskless as well, adding that Sony could probably get away with it. “Actually, I think that Sony can’t get away with it,” said Shawn. He continues by saying that Sony would lose a lot of customers since not everyone is able to make the “jump” from physical to digital that easily (reasons being bad connections, etc). That would alienate a huge chunk of their market.
Shawn gives an example: PlayStation is very popular with athletes, who have a lot of downtime when traveling and like to carry their own PlayStations and enjoy some gaming. You can’t expect a good internet connection in every corner of the world. The same goes for military bases around the world, which can’t have an internet connection, where PS is popular as well.
“The ability do to a diskless solution is really…the key point of that…which part of your market cannot be served by that. Which part of your market would be damaged by going diskless? I’m sure they’re doing research on it, and there will be a tipping point, where there’s some percentage where you can say ‘Okay, that’s is fine. We can turn our back on that part of the market.’ But Sony’s market is globally so huge. I think it would be hard for them to go fully diskless, even with the next generation.”
So, if Sony does not make some wild decisions in the future, we can safely assume that PS6 will cover physical games.