Sony’s announcement two weeks ago regarding the end of physical disc production by 2028 has triggered a wave of public backlash, including petitions, protests, and class-action lawsuits. Amidst the ongoing tension, Gordon Thornton, a former PlayStation Senior Vice President who led the scaling of the company’s digital store, has stepped forward to defend Sony’s digital-only trajectory.

Quick Facts

  • Sony will cease production of physical game discs starting in 2028.
  • Gordon Thornton claims publishers, not Sony, set the recommended retail prices for digital games.
  • A 2021 class-action lawsuit filed in California alleges Sony maintains a monopoly that leads to supracompetitive pricing.
  • Emulation efforts are increasing, with the SharpEmu project recently booting the PS5 exclusive Astro Bot.

The Argument Over Digital Pricing

Speaking to Insider Gaming, Thornton argued that the move toward a digital-only storefront is not a calculated play for massive financial gain. Addressing concerns regarding price manipulation, he stated, "Regarding allegations of monopolization and price manipulation, PlayStation operates on a buy/sell model where the publisher acts as the supplier."

Thornton further contended that because the publisher sets the recommended retail price, Sony does not hold control over pricing structures. He suggested that frequent digital sales and promotions provide sufficient incentive for consumers to embrace the digital model, arguing that these features often make digital versions more appealing than the physical alternative, which is primarily valued for disc-sharing.

Thornton’s defense of the current pricing model stands in direct contrast to claims made in a 2021 class-action lawsuit filed by the State of California. The suit alleges that Sony established a monopoly over digital PlayStation games by removing them from brick-and-mortar retailers, thereby enabling "supracompetitive prices" that exceed those found in a competitive retail environment.

Critically, page four of the legal filing claims that "Sony also requires publishers who sell digital games on the PlayStation Store to relinquish full control over the retail price," a direct contradiction to Thornton's assertion that Sony does not control these structures.

The Growing Emulation Response

Beyond the legal and financial critiques, the move toward a digital-only future has spurred immediate action from the development community. As fans push back against the loss of physical media—which many rely on for game preservation, resale value, and price competition—emulation efforts have gained momentum.

Just days ago, the group behind SharpEmu announced progress on a PlayStation 5 emulator. The project has already successfully booted the PS5 exclusive Astro Bot, highlighting the industry-wide focus on software-based preservation as the window for physical media begins to close.