Nier Creator Yoko Taro Laments the End of Physical Media as PlayStation Plans to Phase Out Game Discs by 2028

Yoko Taro, the creative director and scenario writer behind the Nier series, has expressed his sorrow over the impending demise of physical game media, following Sony's announcement to cease production of game discs starting January 2028. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) on July 19, Taro shared his feelings in a machine-translated post: "Personally, I can't help but feel sad about physical media disappearing, but I suppose it's just the flow of the times. Since controlling physical distribution channels is an inherent advantage — especially compared to platforms like Steam — I had actually envisioned a future where, even as digital downloads became the norm, high-priced limited editions would remain physical (much like the model for CD distribution). It’s a shame my prediction was wrong."

Taro's lament came in a quote-retweet of his own earlier post, where he excitedly showed off his physical copy of Hi-Fi Rush and urged fans to grab game discs while they still can. "With the recent buzz about the PS5 discontinuing physical media production, we've received Hi-Fi RUSH from our last hope, Super Deluxe-san! Don't assume your parents and physical media will always be there, so if you're interested, be sure to check it out," he wrote.

Taro is not alone in his concerns. Gamers worldwide are voicing their opposition to the death of physical game discs, with new game releases often flooded with comments protesting Sony's industry-changing decision. The backlash has even led to legal challenges: a Dutch consumer interest group and Mexican lawmakers have filed lawsuits, arguing that the end of physical discs could create a "relative monopolistic practice" that drives up prices and threatens independent game stores.