Disgaea Creator Slams Sony for Scrapping Discs, Says PlayStation Might as Well ‘Go All the Way’ and Scrap Consoles Too
Sony’s announcement that it will cease producing physical disc releases for new PlayStation games starting January 2028 has triggered significant backlash from the gaming community. Sohei Niikawa, the creator of the Disgaea series and former CEO of Nippon Ichi Software, has emerged as a vocal critic, arguing that Sony’s executives “don’t understand the feelings” of impacted fans. The decision has sparked widespread online backlash, with players expressing frustration across social media and even on unrelated gaming content.
Niikawa’s criticism reflects broader industry concerns about the shift away from physical media. Speaking at Anime Expo 2026, he sarcastically suggested that if PlayStation is abandoning physical games entirely, they should “go all the way” and discontinue consoles altogether—highlighting what he views as a contradictory business strategy.
The move represents a significant shift in PlayStation’s distribution model toward a fully digital ecosystem. It raises concerns among players and industry figures about game preservation, consumer choice, and the future of console gaming, with creators and fans questioning whether the gaming industry is adequately considering the long-term implications of abandoning physical media.