Hideo Kojima's 2021 comments on digital ownership resurface after Sony's PlayStation decision

Hideo Kojima's comments about the future of digital ownership have resurfaced following Sony's announcement that it will stop producing physical discs for new PlayStation games from January 2028.

Sony confirmed that all new PlayStation titles released after the cut-off date will be available only in digital format through the PlayStation Store and participating retailers.

The company described the move as "a natural direction", citing growing consumer demand for digital purchases.

Following the announcement, fans began sharing a series of posts made by Kojima in August 2021, in which the game creator discussed his concerns about an increasingly digital future.

"Digital data will no longer be owned by individuals on their own initiative. Whenever there is a major change or accident in the world, in a country, in a government, in an idea, in a trend, access to it may suddenly be cut off," Kojima wrote.

"We will not be able to freely access the movies, books, and music that we have loved. It would be a have-not. That’s what I’m afraid of. This is not greed."

The posts have gained renewed attention on social media, with some fans suggesting Kojima had accurately anticipated the industry's direction.

Others jokingly referred to him as a "time traveller" after comparing his earlier comments with Sony's recent announcement.

Social media users responded with memes comparing Kojima to fictional characters known for predicting the future, including Eren Yeager from Attack on Titan and Paul Atreides from Dune. Others wrote that he "saw the future" or "tried to warn us".