The creator of Disgaea, Sohei Niikawa, has criticized PlayStation's reported decision to phase out physical games, arguing that if the company abandons discs entirely, it should "get rid of the hardware" as well. Speaking with Noisy Pixel at Anime Expo 2026, Niikawa said physical games offer something digital never can: a lasting connection between developers and fans through collectibles, signatures, and cherished memories. While he understands the business reasons behind the shift to digital, he believes removing physical media strips away a core part of what makes dedicated gaming hardware meaningful.