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What Layden said about buying digital games
In remarks attributed to him by Decrypt, Layden framed the issue as a question of ownership: “It changes the conversation from: do you own a game to do you have access to a digital asset?” He also asked: “If you can’t sell a thing, that means you don’t own a thing. If you don’t own it, what are you buying? If you’re buying access, that doesn’t sound quite as sexy,”
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Those are Layden’s views on the value proposition for consumers, not a legal ruling about who owns a game or what rights a digital purchase grants. Decrypt says he made the comments in an interview with The Expansion Pass podcast; the quotation here is reproduced through Decrypt’s coverage, and the original recording and interview date were not established in the reporting reviewed.
What is reported about Sony’s disc plans
Decrypt reported on October 8, 2026, that Sony plans to stop producing physical discs for new games in 2028. Video Games Chronicle also reported on October 6 that Layden had addressed a decision to stop making discs starting in 2028. Neither report, as cited here, includes an official Sony announcement defining the plan’s scope.
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- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS Madden NFL 27 game. Experience authentic NFL gameplay with Franchise mode, Superstar Career, and Ultimate Team.
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That leaves important questions unanswered: which games, publishers, regions, or PlayStation generations would be affected? The reporting does not establish that Sony is ending every physical PlayStation release, that other publishers will follow, or that existing discs will disappear in 2028. The supported claim is narrower: Sony reportedly plans to stop producing discs for new games from that year.
Why the distinction matters to players
Physical and digital purchases can differ in convenience and resale or transferability. Layden’s criticism focuses on resale: if a buyer cannot sell a game, he argues, the purchase may feel more like access than ownership. That is a consumer-value argument, not proof that every digital license has identical terms or that every disc works without downloads. The cited reporting does not settle those practical or legal details.
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- Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS College Football 27 game.
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Decrypt describes physical-game buyers as a particularly dedicated group of players and collectors, but the cited coverage does not provide primary market data measuring their share. It also reported that a petition had passed 385,000 signatures; that is Decrypt’s reported count, not an independently verified measure of public opinion.
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Layden is described in coverage as a former PlayStation executive and former chairman of Sony Interactive Entertainment Worldwide Studios. He left Sony in 2019. His comments carry the perspective of a former company leader, but they do not constitute an official statement of Sony policy.
Rank #3
- PHYSICAL DISC - Standard Edition for PlayStation 5 (disc) includes the full EA SPORTS FC 27 game. Not compatible with PlayStation 4 console.
- Experience The World's Game in EA SPORTS FC 27. Play in The Grounds, team up with friends in Clubs, learn from football mentors and express your style on and off the pitch
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- Build your legacy in Manager Career with a rebuilt Transfer Market and Dynamic OVRs, then create your dream squad in Football Ultimate Team and showcase your achievements in the new FUT Gallery.
What PS5 owners who use discs should check
A disc drive can matter to players who still use physical games, but compatibility depends on the exact PS5 model. Before buying an accessory, check the model number and current official Sony support guidance. A compatible drive may help with disc use on a supported console; it does not clarify or reverse the reported 2028 production plan.
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Sources
- Decrypt, October 8, 2026
- Video Games Chronicle, October 6, 2026
- GamesRadar+, October 6, 2026
- iTechGuides
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