Hideo Kojima has warned that the end of PlayStation game discs is only one part of a larger shift in gaming. He said the more serious concern is cloud gaming, which could weaken the idea of owning a game at all.
His comments came during Il Cinema in Piazza in Rome, Italy, according to WCCF Tech. In the question-and-answer session, the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding creator discussed how games are now distributed, accessed, and stored.
Physical Media Still Carries Emotional Weight
Kojima said he grew up with physical media and felt sad about Sony’s plan to stop producing PlayStation game discs starting in 2028. He added that he still buys Blu-ray discs and CDs for his personal collection because he values physical ownership.
“Because production will end in 2028, I feel very sad. I grew up with physical media. Even now I still buy Blu-rays of various films and CDs,” Kojima said.
For him, the issue is not only about packaging or distribution format. It reflects a broader transition in how entertainment content is consumed and preserved.
Why Cloud Gaming Raises the Bigger Alarm
Kojima argued that as long as games are downloaded to a hard drive or internal console storage, users still keep the data on their own device. That changes more sharply when games run entirely through cloud gaming.
He compared that model with streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. In that setup, users do not actually own the file, but only receive access while the service and its license remain available.
“There is a server somewhere, and we are only given the right to open access to it. We do not really own the data,” Kojima said.
He also pointed to the risk that access can disappear if distribution ends or policies change. In that case, games or films that users already paid for could become unavailable even after a subscription or digital purchase.
The Core Concern Is Control Over Access
Kojima said server dependence gives companies far more control over what users can keep accessing. He also noted that corporate policy, political conditions, and regulations in different countries can affect whether a digital service remains available.
He warned that if distribution is shut down, people may no longer be able to watch films or play games they once enjoyed. He described that possibility as unsettling because it affects both ownership and long-term access.
“What happens to video games in 2028 could also happen to films. I want everyone to remember that,” Kojima said.
A View That Matters Even With Close Sony Ties
His remarks drew attention because Kojima has a close relationship with Sony. After leaving Konami, Sony helped establish Kojima Productions and provided Decima Engine from Guerrilla Games for the development of Death Stranding.
He is also currently working on Physint, a PlayStation exclusive inspired by stealth espionage games, while OD, a horror project, is backed by Xbox. Even with those ties, he spoke openly about a shift he sees as more significant than the change from discs to digital.
The debate also highlights a long-running issue in digital gaming, where players usually receive a license to use content rather than permanent ownership of the file. If a service closes or a license is revoked, access can disappear, and cloud gaming pushes that risk further by keeping the entire experience on the provider’s servers rather than on the user’s device.
