Nippon Ichi CEO Says Sony Is Hearing Feedback on the Future of Physical PlayStation Discs

The future of physical PlayStation games remains deeply uncertain, but Nippon Ichi Software CEO Kenzo Saruhashi has offered a small measure of optimism for collectors. Saruhashi says the company has been speaking with Sony about the planned discontinuation of physical game-disc manufacturing in 2028, and he believes Sony is taking customer feedback into account.

That matters greatly to Nippon Ichi Software and its North American subsidiary, NIS America. The company is particularly associated with physical editions of its games, including premium limited editions that package a disc alongside items such as art books, soundtracks, display pieces, and other collector-focused extras. For a publisher whose audience often values ownership, presentation, and shelf appeal as much as the software itself, a move away from discs could reshape a significant part of its business.

Saruhashi addressed the issue during PAX West while discussing his first year leading Nippon Ichi Software and his newer role as president of NIS America. He stressed that the company currently has no special information beyond what has been shared publicly. Still, he made clear that physical releases remain an important priority.

"Speaking for myself, I know that a big part of our business model, particularly with NISA, is producing our physical limited editions," Saruhashi said. "That's an important part of our business and we, for our part, intend to continue making those physical editions and delivering the exceptional quality that our customers are expecting of us."

For useful background on this topic, read Nippon Ichi CEO Says AI Research Must Put Game Quality Before Speed.

A collector-oriented publisher faces an industry-wide change

Nippon Ichi and NIS America occupy a distinctive place in the games market. While many publishers have increasingly prioritized digital storefronts, subscriptions, and downloadable expansions, NIS America has continued to build releases around physical collector appeal. That approach is familiar to fans of Disgaea and the publisher's wider catalogue of niche Japanese games, strategy RPGs, and genre titles.

For these players, a limited edition is not simply a retail box with a download voucher inside. The physical game is frequently a central component of the product. It is the item that ties the rest of the package together, giving collectors a version of the game they can display, preserve, lend, trade, or revisit without relying solely on continued access to a digital storefront.

That distinction is why Sony's plan to stop manufacturing physical discs beginning in 2028 has generated concern among publishers and customers. A code-in-a-box solution could allow companies to keep selling art books, figures, and other extras in premium packages, but it would not be an equivalent replacement for players who specifically want a disc. The collector appeal of a large box can change substantially if its game component is merely a redemption code.

Physical releases also have practical value beyond collecting. Some consumers prefer them because they can resell games, share them with friends, build a library independent of account purchases, or simply avoid being fully dependent on digital distribution. A disc is not always a complete preservation solution in an era of patches and server-dependent features, but it remains a meaningful form of access and ownership for many buyers.

Code-in-a-box is possible, but not presented as the only outcome

When asked whether the end of PlayStation disc production would require NIS America to move toward code-in-a-box editions, Saruhashi acknowledged that it could be one outcome. However, he did not frame that option as inevitable.

"In our discussions with Sony so far, I think that they're hearing a lot of the feedback from customers," Saruhashi said. "While that may be one destination that we arrive at, it's possible that the discussion may change in the future, so we'll have to see what happens, what comes of it."

The wording leaves substantial room for uncertainty. Saruhashi did not say that Sony has reversed its plan, offered an exemption, or committed to a new manufacturing program for specialty releases. He also did not identify any final model for publishers that depend on boxed games. At present, the stated 2028 timeline remains the key public benchmark, and collectors should not treat these comments as confirmation that ordinary PlayStation disc releases will continue beyond it.

Even so, the fact that discussions are taking place is notable. A large publisher with a business model tied closely to limited physical editions has an obvious reason to communicate the concerns of its customers. Its feedback is also likely to overlap with the interests of other boutique publishers, specialty distributors, independent studios, and retailers that still see strong demand for boxed releases.

A potential route for limited-run exceptions

If Sony does adjust its approach, one possibility would be a narrower solution rather than a complete reversal of the 2028 plan. Disc manufacturing could potentially continue in limited quantities for selected publishers, premium editions, or carefully controlled collector runs. Such an arrangement would let companies like NIS America maintain the defining feature of their highest-end packages without requiring Sony to preserve the same disc-production model for every retail release.

There is no announced policy indicating that such an exception will happen. It is simply a scenario that fits the needs Saruhashi described. Limited editions are generally planned in smaller quantities, sold at premium prices, and marketed directly to audiences that place particular value on physical goods. That could make them easier to accommodate than a broad retail-disc program, though any arrangement would still have to make logistical and financial sense for Sony.

For Nippon Ichi, a compromise of this kind could be especially meaningful. Its limited editions are not a minor afterthought attached to a wider mainstream publishing operation. They are a visible part of how NIS America presents games to its audience. Removing the disc from those editions would risk creating a gap between what customers expect and what the product can deliver.

Switch 2 key cards show the sensitivity around physical formats

Nippon Ichi's experience with Nintendo Switch 2 game key cards illustrates why format choices can be so sensitive among dedicated physical-media buyers. The company briefly experimented with game key cards on Switch 2, but that approach appears to have been unpopular with its audience.

Game key cards may be tangible products, but they do not satisfy every reason customers buy physical games. A buyer can still receive a cartridge-like item for a collection, yet the product's function and long-term usefulness may depend more heavily on downloading the game. For fans who prioritize a complete game on physical media, that distinction is crucial.

The reaction provides a useful signal for any publisher considering code-in-a-box releases after PlayStation disc manufacturing ends. Packaging, bonus items, and collectible branding have value, but they may not fully offset disappointment if the actual game is no longer contained on the physical item. For a company that has cultivated a highly engaged collector audience, maintaining trust may be as important as finding a technically viable distribution method.

What customers should expect for now

For the moment, the practical message is straightforward: Nippon Ichi Software and NIS America intend to keep producing physical editions and preserve the quality customers associate with them. The company is also talking with Sony, and Saruhashi believes customer feedback is being heard. But the ultimate result of those conversations has not been disclosed.

That means the industry is still waiting for important details. Will Sony's 2028 plan apply without exceptions? Could select limited editions still include discs? Would publishers have to rely on vouchers or codes? Could a different manufacturing or licensing arrangement emerge? None of those questions has a confirmed answer yet.

Collectors will likely continue watching closely because the consequences extend beyond one publisher. Nippon Ichi's position highlights a broader tension in the modern game business: digital distribution offers convenience and lower physical overhead, while boxed editions still carry cultural, practical, and commercial importance for a committed segment of the audience.

Saruhashi's comments do not guarantee a reprieve for physical PlayStation discs. They do, however, suggest that the future has not been entirely locked in behind closed doors. For fans of premium boxed games, that is reason to remain attentive as Sony's 2028 transition approaches.