Ex-Blizzard president raises concerns after Sony confirms end of physical PlayStation games

Mike Ybarra says players need stronger digital ownership protections after Sony's disc phase-out announcement

Former Blizzard president Mike Ybarra has shared his concerns about Sony's decision to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs, saying players should not have to worry about losing access to games they have already purchased.

Sony recently confirmed that all new PlayStation games released from January 2028 onwards will be available exclusively in digital form through the PlayStation Store and retailers selling digital game codes. Games released before the cut-off date will continue to be sold on physical discs.

The company described the move as "a natural direction" driven by changing consumer preferences and the continued shift towards digital media.

Responding to the announcement, Ybarra said he was not surprised by the industry's direction but admitted he was "sad" to see the transition arrive sooner than he had expected.

While he said the change would not personally affect him, he argued that future generations could miss experiences associated with physical games.

"What I personally don’t like is the Christmas mornings and Birthday parties for young kids," Ybarra wrote. "Having to open a game only to have to spend potentially hours downloading it… it’s a real bummer."

Rather than calling for Sony to continue manufacturing discs, Ybarra suggested platform holders should strengthen consumer confidence in digital ownership.

He proposed what he described as a "digital promise" that would reassure players they would continue to have access to games they have purchased.

"We can’t live in a world of fear if our games will work in the future or not," he said.

Ybarra also suggested simplifying digital game sharing and creating a marketplace where players could resell digital games, describing a used digital game market as "a must".

He concluded by urging platform holders to communicate their long-term digital strategies more clearly, writing, "Show us you have a plan for this transition and that you care about gamers. We will embrace the transition if you give us the confidence, trust, and freedom to enjoy the hobby we love."

Sony's announcement follows reports that GTA 6 will also not include a physical game disc, even in its Ultimate Edition.