Saber Interactive CCO Reacts to Physical Game Discs Declining and Rising Console Prices

During a recent appearance at Gamescom, Saber Interactive chief creative officer Tim Willits spoke with GameSpot about major industry trends shaping gaming, including Sony's upcoming plans to end support for physical PlayStation game discs in 2028. Willits stated that he was surprised by the public outcry over the decision, noting that he personally hasn't purchased a physical game in a long time due to the convenience of digital releases. However, he acknowledged that Saber Interactive still generates substantial revenue from physical game sales, particularly in European markets, though consumer habits differ across North America. Reflecting on physical media nostalgia, Willits recalled being asked to sign a physical copy of Doom 3—a title he worked on during his time at id Software—and admitted he will personally miss that aspect of physical collections in the future. He also floated the concept of a hypothetical future "AI box" device where players could upload all their digital games to replicate the shelf-collecting experience.

Alongside discussions of physical media, Willits addressed the soaring costs of gaming hardware in 2026. Consoles have become significantly more expensive due to various factors, including component and memory price inflation driven by artificial intelligence and United States presidential tariffs. Current pricing models show that both PlayStation and Xbox systems are retailing for upwards of $150 more than their original 2020 launch prices. Furthermore, Nintendo is set to increase the price of the Switch 2 in September. Willits described the current cost of purchasing a new console as shocking, while noting it remains to be seen how companies like Sony and Microsoft will navigate hardware pricing for future generations. A recent report from Ampere Analysis suggested that if next-generation consoles eventually reach prices of $1,000 or higher, it could create severe negative impacts on the broader gaming market, though neither Sony nor Microsoft has officially detailed pricing or release timelines for their next hardware iterations yet. Additionally, Willits touched on Saber Interactive's internal approach to artificial intelligence, stating the company plans to utilize AI in game development while maintaining a policy that no employees will be fired and replaced by the technology.