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Hideki Kamiya Says Preservation Should Come Before Format as PlayStation Phases Out Discs

Preservation groups have urged industry trade bodies to build long-term plans to keep games playable on future consoles.

Overview

  • Sony plans to stop producing physical PlayStation game discs starting January 2028, a move driven by rising digital sales and company guidance to retailers.
  • Hideki Kamiya told VGC that he now buys games “100% digital” and that his main worry is whether IP holders will ensure older titles remain playable for future generations.
  • The Video Game History Foundation has publicly called on trade groups to create coordinated solutions for long-term digital preservation of games.
  • Disc owners and collector groups have staged protests such as a weeklong PlayStation Blackout and retailers are preparing boxed download codes, raising concerns about resale, lending and regional market access.
  • Practical examples such as Hamster Corporation’s Arcade Archives show how re-releases can keep classics accessible, and industry commitments to similar programs will determine whether cultural and technical preservation succeeds.