Sony's decision to completely abandon physical media by 2028 continues to spark lively debate among players and industry representatives. Many users fear that the transition to digital distribution will lead to higher game prices, especially amid numerous reports that physical copies are often cheaper than digital versions.
Against this backdrop, speculation began to emerge online that Sony was allegedly deliberately promoting the abandonment of discs to increase revenue from digital sales. However, former PlayStation top executive Gordon Thornton considers such accusations unfounded.
In an interview with Insider Gaming, Thornton stated that Sony does not set prices for digital games in the PlayStation Store. According to him, the final decision on product cost is made solely by the publisher, so talks of possible price collusion are not true.
Thornton oversaw PlayStation's digital division for over ten years. As Senior Vice President, he was responsible for the Direct-to-Consumer division and effectively controlled the operations of the PlayStation Store.
The former executive also supported Sony's course towards digital distribution. In his opinion, the modern audience has long moved from a completely offline format to connected online services, and the role of traditional retailers of physical copies is gradually declining.
Thornton also emphasized that regular promotions and sales make the digital format more attractive to many players than the advantages of physical media, such as the ability to share discs with friends.