Normally, I don’t weigh in on topics like this, as I stay away from discussions that are tied to very heated conversations. With that being said, I really have had this one on my mind quite a bit, and typically when that happens, I find it’s best to just get my thoughts out there. For added context, my primary experience with gaming is through consoles, and most of the time I get physical editions.

For those who don’t know, Sony recently announced that as of 2028, they are going completely digital with their games. No more physical discs for any of their products, and since then, the internet has been, understandably, in an uproar about it. The reality is, I greatly dislike this decision, and I have a few reasons as to why I feel that way.

First of all, we lose a lot of what we can do with the games themselves. I’ve spent a lot of time trading/loaning games, having easy access to new-to-me titles, and providing the same access for my friends. In doing so, this introduced me to new franchises that I would go on to spend plenty of money to see the rest of what they have to offer. Gaming is an expensive hobby and one that takes a lot of time as well. Trading and having the option to easily share games is a great way to get those new experiences and lock in on future favorite franchises. We don’t always have the luxury of spending full price on a game, or the willingness to invest the time waiting on a good enough discount to try something for the first time.

As gamers, we also love to collect, and to many of us, having the physical copies of games functions just like having a collection of trophies. Having the option to not only collect, but customize how we display our games is a key aspect that many gamers adore. I have multiple rooms in my home with games on display because of how much I enjoy doing so. Now I know some digital games have a physical box with a download code in them, but as collectors, we are very particular about how we collect. It’s knowing that we have all of those games available within the boxes that makes the displays so captivating to us. That’s just not something I would want to see go away, which it will in an all-digital market.

I personally don’t like the idea of having to invest a lot of money in buying a console with an insane amount of storage to have the means to hold all of my games. Games are getting more and more complex, and the file sizes are getting a lot bigger. That means investing hundreds of dollars for more space or constantly choosing which games to have access to at one time. It’s one thing to manage how you display games physically while having access to everything. It’s another to have to make the call as to how to organize games into what you want most because the means to access them all simultaneously is locked behind an expensive product.

Not to mention the fact that these games could be lost forever at any given time. Fire Emblem Fates: Revolutions, for example, is a digital-only version of Fire Emblem Fates, and the only way to get it physically was in the limited edition bundle (good luck finding it). Now that the 3DS eShop is shut down, any player getting into the franchise for the first time is likely to never have this experience. I worry this problem is only going to increase dramatically if gaming moves in this direction, and it becomes far less practical to invest in a franchise with a long-standing history when that history is largely inaccessible.

Now that’s my practical thoughts on the topic, but gaming is a passion of mine, so some of my opinions are entirely emotional. I’m genuinely insulted by this decision, and I’m quite angry about it. From a financial standpoint, I get it, as digital is cheaper for Sony than making physical media. What annoys me is that this decision is done at the expense of fans. It is very clear to me this is a choice purely about numbers with no thought in mind for the fan experience. For a company that designs products for entertainment, this is the wrong approach. Companies have to make a profit, and I respect that, but companies like Sony ideally should balance maximizing profits while keeping in mind the elements fans hold dear.

PlayStation has always been more of a secondary console to me as I’m primarily a Nintendo gamer. I used to get Xbox games, but I’ve not bought one of their consoles since the Xbox 360. This was initially due to their decision way back in the day to do an always-online setting. At the time, my internet would not have made that easy, but the main part of the decision was when their company told fans to simply “deal with it.” I did not respect this take, and I feel the same way about Sony’s decision here.

I have no issues with digital games as I’ve gotten a few myself, but the lack of choice is something I greatly dislike. So at the current time, I have no plans to buy any future consoles from Sony. If they are going this route, I see no practical reason to get a PlayStation over investing in a gaming PC. If the games are going to be digital, and the product is going to be expensive, it makes sense to get something I can get far more use out of. I’m genuinely worried companies like Nintendo could follow in this decision because that is a much harder topic for me to address. Sony doesn’t have nearly the same level of sentimental value, so choosing not to buy the next console when I’ve never bought a PlayStation on release date is a much easier call for me to make.

If you feel the same or different from me, I absolutely respect your feelings on the matter. Also, if you’re a long-time PC gamer who is used to the digital market, I’d love to hear more about your experiences and any advice you might have for me on a good PC.