Saber CCO Tim Willits on PlayStation disc end, 'AI box' idea and higher console costs

GG Brief Editorial Desk · AI-assisted, source attributed

At Gamescom, Saber Interactive chief creative officer Tim Willits reacted to Sony's plan to end support for physical PlayStation game discs in 2028 and said he was surprised by the public backlash because he personally prefers digital purchases. He said Saber still earns substantial revenue from physical game sales, especially in Europe, while North American demand is different. Willits floated the idea of an "AI box" that could let players upload digital libraries and recreate boxed collections, and noted this discussion comes as console prices rise — PS5 and Xbox Series X|S are now more than $150 pricier than at their 2020 launches.

• Willits spoke at Gamescom and said he was surprised by how upset people were about Sony ending support for physical PlayStation discs in 2028.
• Willits said he has not bought a physical game in a long time and prefers the convenience of digital purchases.
• Saber Interactive still makes "a lot of money" from physical game sales, particularly in Europe, while trends in North America differ.
• PS5 and Xbox Series X|S retail prices are more than $150 higher than at their 2020 launch prices, driven by US tariffs and AI-related increases in component and memory costs; Nintendo is also raising Switch prices.