Xbox has succeeded with a digital strategy, but only in a limited number of countries.
Layden mentioned the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and several other English-speaking markets.
PlayStation is number one in about 170 countries. The company has a responsibility: if it goes fully digital, what portion of the market will be unable to make the transition?
He gave examples where a fully digital console would be inconvenient: rural areas without high-speed internet, athletes traveling with a PS5, and military bases without online access.
Layden added:
The ability to go fully digital depends on what portion of the market you will be unable to serve.
He suggested that Sony is conducting research and will determine the "threshold" after which discs can be removed, but given the scale of the global market, this will be difficult.