Sohei Niikawa, creator of the Disgaea series, shared his views on physical game copies during an interview at Anime Expo 2026. He emphasized their value for fans as keepsakes and mementos. His comments come as Sony plans to phase out game discs starting in 2028.
Niikawa told Noisy Pixel that physical editions allow fans to own games as objects with lasting meaning. He noted they can be taken to events for developer signatures and displayed at home.
The former Nippon Ichi Software president acknowledged Sony’s business perspective but suggested executives may not grasp how fans engage with physical copies at conventions. He proposed that removing discs could lead to eliminating consoles entirely in favor of downloads to televisions.
Sony’s approach will still allow game boxes on shelves containing download codes, similar to the upcoming Grand Theft Auto VI release in November. Niikawa’s new studio is preparing Demons’ Night Fever, which will include a physical version later this year.
